National Breast Imaging Academy training programmes will save lives and save millions in health care costs. According to an independent evaluation report, the National Breast Imaging Academy (NBIA) is helping to improve patient outcomes and save the health economy £50 million over ten years by addressing significant breast imaging workforce shortages. The NBIA was formed in 2018 to provide new training programmes as well as address recruitment and retention issues in the breast imaging workforce in England. It has developed a Mammography Associate apprenticeship, Breast Clinician Credential, Radiology Fellowship, and extensive e-learning resources for breast imaging professionals. It is funded by Health Education England (HEE) and hosted by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. According to Economics By Design*, these new initiatives will save the health economy £50 million between 2020 and 2029. The evaluation was carried out by comparing the costs of the initiatives to traditional practises such as the use of agency and locum staff. “Although there are many stakeholder organisations with an interest in breast imaging, none have a unique mandate to initiate, facilitate, develop, and implement solutions to workforce problems,” the evaluation authors concluded. The NBIA initiatives will each add significant value to the system, ensuring that patients receive services and that outcomes for women with breast cancer improve. Alternative strategies would have been less effective (even if they had been feasible).” According to Nerys Blake, Deputy Director of Diagnostics Workforce for Health Education England (Cancer and Diagnostics Programme) and NHS England (Diagnostics Programme), “Health Education England (HEE) is delighted to have provided support for the National Breast Imaging Academy (NBIA) in their work to identify and address the current breast imaging workforce challenges. The NBIA has been able to introduce a national breast radiology fellowship programme, develop and pilot a credentialed training programme for breast clinicians, establish apprenticeship programmes for different levels of the workforce, develop a suite of online resources to support breast imaging trainees and professionals (the ‘Academy Online,’ and implement a campaign to raise awareness of opportunities and careers in breast imaging as a result of this collaborative work. HEE is delighted to see the NBIA’s valuable work highlighted in this report, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with them in supporting the education and training development of the breast imaging workforce.” “The NBIA has provided a national focal point to address workforce issues in breast imaging, enabling trainers from across the country to work collaboratively,” said Dr Mary Wilson, NBIA Programme Lead. We have already provided a significant boost to the multidisciplinary workforce by supporting and developing new training pathways. This includes the 160 Mammography Associates who have enrolled so far, as well as the 31 Radiology Fellows and 20 Breast Clinicians who are either starting or finishing their training. “This is all good news for patients in terms of reducing the backlog in routine screening appointments and expediting referrals for diagnosis and treatment. However, in order to ensure the future viability of our breast services and to further reduce breast cancer mortality, we need ongoing planned investment in trainers, trainees, and training facilities across the country.