The breast self-referral pilot service was initiated as part of the Wessex Cancer Alliance (WCA) response to the national Rapid Diagnostic Centre (RDC) Programme in 2020/21. At this time the RDC programme formed part of the package of work in place nationally and regionally to deliver the ambition to diagnose patients with cancer faster and to improve patient experience. The RDC programme also formed part of the response to deliver the new Faster
Diagnosis Standard (FDS). The RDC specification cited self-referral as part of work that could be undertaken to open access to referrers other than primary care and formed part of their recommended approach to implementation.