BREASTSCREEN QLD’S DIGITAL REVOLUTION HITS THE ROAD

The Bligh Government’s digital revolution of BreastScreen Queensland hit the road today with the first of six new mobile units on its way to regional Queensland.

Premier Anna Bligh was joined by Health Minister Stephen Robertson to launch the mobile unit, which will service North Queensland.

“Breast cancer affects the lives of thousands of Queensland women and their families every year,” Ms Bligh said.

“Early detection of the disease remains the best defence and my Government is committed to ensuring Queensland women – particularly those in regional and remote parts of the state – have access to a reliable and efficient breastscreening service.

“The new mobile units have been specially manufactured and will take the latest digital technology to regional and remote towns in Queensland.

“The first unit will be based in Townsville and begin services later this month in north Queensland towns like Ayr, Mount Isa, Magnetic Island and Collinsville.

“The second unit will hit the road next month, servicing regional areas in south-east Queensland including Redbank, Goodna and the Gold and Sunshine Coast Hinterlands.

“And next year, four more units will begin servicing Central and central Western Queensland; the Darling Downs, West Moreton and South-Western Queensland; Cairns, the Torres Strait and Cape York; and outer areas of the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.

“The benefit of digitally-equipped mobile units is the ability for radiographers to immediately view the images and check the quality before a woman leaves the mobile unit.

“This not only saves time for busy women but prevents the occasional situation where women need to come back for a repeat breastscreen because the first image didn’t work for technical reasons.

“This will make a huge difference, particularly to those women who have to travel long distances for an appointment.

“This is about delivering a better, faster and more efficient breastscreen service to regional Queensland and further closing the gap in regional health care,” she said.

Mr Robertson said it was encouraging to see breastscreening rates were up five per cent on the same period last year.

“During the last financial year 210,860 women took advantage of BreastScreen Queensland services,” Mr Robertson said.

“This year the BreastScreen Queensland program aims to screen 220,000 women.”

“With the move to faster and more efficient digital technology, we want to see even more women accessing regular breastscreens.”

Mr Robertson said the mobile units were part of a $12.25 million digitalisation of BreastScreen Queensland, due for completion mid-next year.

“The roll-out of digital equipment across the state is on track,” Mr Robertson said.

“Ipswich and Townsville clinics are now fully digital, Bundaberg will be online by the end of the month, and Toowoomba, Mackay and South Brisbane are on-schedule to be digital by December.

“The roll-out will be completed by mid-2009 when Rockhampton, Nambour, north Brisbane, Gold Coast and Cairns clinics go digital.

“Screening and early detection are the best defences against breast cancer and this Bligh Government commitment is about removing barriers to women accessing this service.”

October is the international month of Breast Cancer Awareness.

Women aged 50-69 years are encouraged to have a free breastscreen every two years at a BreastScreen Queensland Service. Women aged 40-49 years and those over 70 are also eligible for a free breastscreen.

To arrange a free breastscreen, or to find out about the closest service or when a mobile service is visiting your area, call 13 20 50.

Media: 3234 1190 (Minister Robertson’s Office)