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Mammography Associate Pilot Project
To address a shortage of staff in the mammography workforce HEE has supported the establishment of a National Breast Imaging Academy (NBIA) to develop a range of solutions to increase supply of the multiprofessional breast imaging workforce.
Through the NBIA, HEE has supported employers to develop an apprenticeship for a new support worker role – the Mammography Associate (MA) – this was approved for delivery by the Institute for Apprenticeships in August 2018.
After successful completion of the MA apprenticeship the new worker will be competent to undertake routine mammography (obtain breast images using x-ray techniques) and will thus augment mammography capacity in both the NHS Breast Screening Programme and in symptomatic NHS breast clinics. This new role will relieve pressure on the registered radiography workforce and free up their time to undertake advanced practice techniques, in turn relieving pressure on the medical (radiologist) breast imaging workforce. Of note the NBIA is developing further solutions to increase capacity and capability for these staff groups also.
HEE is offering a limited number of training support grants of £9,000 to Trusts employing MA apprentices. Priority will be given to Trusts with high levels of mammographer vacancy and / or round length or other KPI challenges.
This support is available as a one-off payment in the current financial year (2019/20) and should be used by employers to support and facilitate their trainees completing a recognised MA apprenticeship training programme. This HEE funding must be expended in the financial year 2019/20. Trusts will be asked to refund the payment to HEE for any trainee who subsequently fails to start the programme.
Please complete the application form at the bottom of this page and submit by 27 February 2020 via email to diagnosticsprogramme@hee.nhs.uk.
Please address any queries to diagnosticsprogramme@hee.nhs.uk