BreastCheck has ensured that its programme is externally reviewed and validated. Last year a team from the European Reference Centre for Quality visited the programme. The key strengths of the programme identified by the reference centre are: outstandingly high levels of professional expertise; team working; and commitment to the programme with all disciplines working to an internationally recognised standard. The report also congratulates the programme on its investment in high quality and internationally recognised professional staff. This is high praise from an international visiting team and, at the launch of its annual report last October, I congratulated the board of BreastCheck and its staff, who have contributed at all levels to such an impressive result.