The breast screening service should ensure that all women who are recalled for assessment receive information, advice and support appropriate to their needs. The CNS should assess the woman’s requirement for information and offer appropriate verbal and written information as required, and all women requiring further investigations, for
example fine needle aspiration or core biopsy, or further treatment should be offered a consultation
with the CNS (NHSBSP 2008b). For the CNS to assess the information and support needs of women, it is necessary for the CNS to meet and talk to these women. This survey showed how services are working towards achieving this, with 81.2%
(1,446/1,780) of women at assessment talking to a CNS and 93.2% (1,447/1,552) of women being satisfied with the information they received. Anxiety levels were also measured and the results showed that women leaving breast screening assessment centres feel less anxious than they did on arrival. This could be the result of a combination
of satisfaction with the service and a reassuring assessment outcome.