The opening of a BreastScreen permanent service in Mona Vale means that around 16,000 women aged 50-74 from the Upper Northern Beaches area now have access to the service within 20 minutes of their home.
Around 1000 women have already had a mammogram at the new site since it opened in July. This new site replaces a mobile unit, which visited the Northern Beaches every year and is in addition to the screening unit at Brookvale Community Health Centre.
The new clinic has one mammography room with capacity to expand to two rooms to meet future growth and demand.
Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby welcomed the new permanent service.
“Having breast screening services close to home can make the difference between someone having a breast screen and not having one, and that simple fact can make all the difference,” MS Scruby said.
“This new permanent site at Mona Vale Hospital will make a huge difference to the approximately 5000 women every year who are expected to receive screenings,” said NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park.
“Currently women who live within the Northern Beaches catchment need to travel to other sites in Northern Sydney or further away for their two-yearly mammogram. This is the first permanent BreastScreen NSW clinic in this area and will ensure local women have access to early detection services,” Mr Park said.
For women aged 50-74 years, a breast screen every two years is the best way to detect breast cancer early, before it can be seen or felt. Anyone with breast symptoms should contact their GP or health worker without delay.
To book a mammogram with BreastScreen NSW, call 13 20 50 or visit breastscreen.nsw.gov.au.