BreastScreen Expands to Meet Demand
On Friday, June 28th Ms Geraldine Doogue
from ABC Radio National launched a new BreastScreen NSW mobile screening
van alongside the Sydney Opera House. The mobile screening van will
provide women living in the Hunter, Southern Sydney, Illawarra,
Northern Sydney and Lower Central Coast with increased access to
this important women’s health service
According to BreastScreen NSW Hunter Business Manager, Ms Michelle
Toirkens, the need to expand the breast screening service became
apparent in the past few years due to an increase in the target
population, women aged 50 to 69 years, and demand for free breast
screening. "A state mobile van will provide many benefits to women
living in these areas including ease of access to the service, improved
waiting times for appointments and increased number of appointments
for having a screening mammogram.
"The state mobile breast screening van will be a visual reminder
to women aged 50 to 69 years about the importance of a regular screening
mammogram at BreastScreen NSW every two years," Ms Toirkens stated.
"Construction of the state mobile breast screening van began in
July 2001, although the planning commenced some time before this.
We considered what seemed to work well on our current mobile vans,
so that we could design a van best suited to the needs of women.
Ms Doogue emphasised that the provision of more easily accessible
locations will improve the equity of access for women to the free
breast screening program. "More locations mean that women living
in NSW will travel less distance to receive this vital women’s health
service. By increasing the number of locations where the service
is delivered, BreastScreen NSW can increase the provision of this
high quality free breast screening program to women and may save
lives.
"Research has shown that if 70% of women aged 50 to 69 years have
a regular screening mammogram, the number of deaths associated with
the disease could be reduced by up to 30%. The challenge for BreastScreen
NSW is to regularly screen 70% of women aged 50 to 69 years living
in NSW every two years.
The service is well on its way to achieving this result," Ms Doogue
said. "In 2001, close to 300,000 women had a screening mammogram
at BreastScreen NSW. More than 180,000 were women aged 50 to 69
years. This is approximately 54% of women aged 50 to 69 years living
in NSW.
Ms Doogue took the opportunity to encourage women aged 50 to 69
years to make an appointment for a regular screening mammogram.
"If you see the new BreastScreen NSW mobile screening van remember
that a screening mammogram is the most effective way to detect breast
cancer early. For those who have attended BreastScreen NSW, please
remember to go back every two years. Early detection is the best
protection.
If you are a woman aged 50 to 69 years and would like to make an
appointment for a free screening mammogram at BreastScreen NSW phone
13 20 50. You do not need a Medicare card or a doctor’s referral
for an appointment.
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A new partnership, the first of its kind in
Australia
On Thursday, May 9th, 2002, NSW Minister
for Health, the Hon Craig Knowles attended a public announcement
to support a partnership project between BreastScreen NSW, David
Jones and the Royal Hospital for Women. The partnership is the first
of its kind in Australia.
BreastScreen NSW will provide a free screening mammogram to women
aged 50 to 69 years in consulting rooms located on level 3 of the
David Jones Elizabeth Street store. David Jones will fund and construct
the fully equipped consulting rooms, known as ‘The Rose Clinic’.
The construction of The Rose Clinic will begin in July and the consulting
rooms will be officially opened in September this year.
According to BreastScreen NSW Program Director, Ms Ann Brassil the
aim of the unique partnership is to encourage well women to have
a regular screening mammogram. "One in 11 Australian women are diagnosed
with breast cancer at some stage in their lifetime. If 70% of women
aged 50 to 69 years attend for a regular screening mammogram, the
number of deaths caused by this disease could be reduced by up to
30%.
David White (Executive Director Royal
Hospital for Women), Peter Wilkinson (CEO David Jones), Craig
Knowles MP (NSW Minister for Health), Ann Brassil (BreastScreen
NSW Program Director), Stephen Boyages (CEO WSAHS) and Don Grover
(Stores Director David Jones)
NSW Minister for Health, the Hon Craig Knowles,
highlighted the benefit of the partnership for women. "The location
of the Rose Clinic in David Jones will assist women with busy lifestyles
to make the time for this important women’s health check. It is
vital that women aged 50 to 69 years have a regular screening mammogram.
Generally this means once every two years.
"Breast cancer can not be prevented," he said. "The best protection
for women is to find the disease early. The earlier breast cancer
is detected, the more treatment options available to women and the
greater the chance of survival.
Ms Brassil emphasised that the partnership involves private enterprise
working together with the public sector to provide the community
with access to high quality women’s health services. "BreastScreen
NSW will provide a free screening mammogram to women aged 50 to
69 years and the Royal Hospital for Women will provide other important
well women’s health checks. These health checks include bone density
assessment, blood tests and blood pressure monitoring.
"As the first partnership of its kind in Australia, women will be
able to combine these important health checks with their shopping
day in an accessible, discrete and dignified setting at David Jones,"
Ms Brassil said.
The Rose Clinic will be officially opened in early September 2002.
For further information about these consulting rooms please contact
BreastScreen NSW State Coordination Unit on (02) 9845 8855.
Richard Tewson (BSNSW Manager Population
Health Strategy), Ann Brassil (BreastScreen NSW Program Director),
Stephen Boyages (CEO Western Sydney Area Health Service) and
Anne Stuart (BSNSW Manager Statewide Corporate Services)
New weapon in the fight against breast cancer
Local women have just been given a new weapon
in the fight against breast cancer, with the launch of a full time
BreastScreen Centre in Campbelltown. The new service will replace
the mobile screening van, which has visited the area since 1993.
The new BreastScreen Greater Western Sydney facility was opened
by NSW Health Minister, the Hon Craig Knowles, and coincided with
International Women’s Day celebrations. The centre is based within
the existing Ultrascan radiology practice in the Specialist Medical
Centre, Queen Street, Campbelltown.
Fiona Burgemeister, Director of BreastScreen Greater Western Sydney,
said the timing of the launch was deliberate as it marked a significant
improvement in services for local women. "We are very excited about
the transition from the mobile screening van to the new permanent
location, and the opportunities this creates for women. The van
has always been well used in the Campbelltown area, but with the
growing population we were concerned that some women may be missing
out."
Scheduling of the mobile van saw it visit the suburb of Campbelltown
for between 4 and 6 months of each year. "The group who were most
disadvantaged were women who missed out on returning for their recommended
rescreening during the van’s stay" said Ms Burgemeister. "These
women were forced to wait up to 9 months for the return of the van,
or alternatively take time off work and use the service in another
location such as Liverpool."
Local resident Greer Jones, welcomed the service on behalf of all
local women. "I have been a regular visitor to the BreastScreen
van for a number of years. I had gone somewhere else previously
but after visiting the van for the first time I have just kept going
back. I like the fact that the staff are all women, and that I get
a reminder letter when it is time to come again."
"I’m well aware of the importance of having mammograms regularly
and like the fact that it’s so quick to have the appointment" said
Ms Jones. "Last time I missed the van and had to travel to Liverpool
for my rescreen, so I’m especially glad that this centre has now
opened to provide year round access to the women of Campbelltown.
I’m sure many other women would have been unable to make a similar
journey and may have missed out on having this valuable health test".
Women can visit the new centre on the ground floor of the Specialist
Medical Centre, Cnr King and Queen Streets, Campbelltown. The service
is especially important for women aged 50-69 and is provided free
of charge, with no Medicare card or Doctor’s referral necessary.
Appointments are essential and can be made by phoning 13 20 50 (for
the cost of a local call).
Fiona Burgemeister (Service
Director BreastScreen NSW Greater Western Sydney) and the
Hon Craig Knowles (NSW Minister for Health)
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