Page 1376 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 13 May 2014
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Can you update the Assembly on the role that BreastScreen ACT has played in the ACT community over the past 21 years?
MS GALLAGHER: I thank Ms Berry for the question and the opportunity to talk about the work of BreastScreen ACT, particularly as they reach this very important milestone of 21 years of service.
On Friday, 9 May, BreastScreen ACT held an open day and morning tea at the Canberra city clinic to celebrate 21 years of breast screening in the ACT. Over that time, the service has grown along with our population and has provided screening mammograms to approximately 360,000 women. BreastScreen commenced in the ACT in 1993, but has undergone significant changes over the years, including the opening of a breast screening clinic at Phillip health centre in 2008 and the very important change from analog to digital imaging in 2010. In the 1990s, the ACT was the first screening unit in Australia to make available the technique of stereotactic vacuum biopsy for the diagnosis of breast cancer, a standard practice now for all breast screening services across Australia.
The specialist staff at BreastScreen ACT operate as part of a multidisciplinary team, including radiologists, surgeons, pathologists, nurse counsellors, radiographers, administration staff and senior management with specific expertise over that range of areas and often many years of dedicated service in providing this screening to women.
The 21st birthday event was very well attended, with approximately 70 guests joining in the celebrations with the morning tea, and there was a lunch later in the day. The lunch was funded by the Canberra Hospital Foundation but brought together a range of people to celebrate and reflect on the achievements.
I would like to acknowledge the hard work and the dedication of the teams who set up the original breast screening program and also the staff and volunteers who have supported BreastScreen ACT over all those years. There is no doubt that the amount of screening they have done and the support they provide to women, particularly when an abnormality is detected, have saved probably thousands of lives.
The message of the morning and of the day of celebration was: early detection is your best protection. Again, it is just a reminder for women in the target age group, from 50 to 69, but also for women under 50, that they are able to access BreastScreen ACT services for regular checking and updates through mammogram programs.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Berry.
MS BERRY: Minister, has BreastScreen ACT achieved any other major milestones recently?
MS GALLAGHER: I thank Ms Berry for the supplementary. In November last year BreastScreen ACT was awarded four-year accreditation by BreastScreen Australia, which is the highest level of accreditation that can be achieved. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all associated with and involved in the program. This means that women can be assured that the screening services in Canberra are of the
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