New breast screen clinic for northern suburbs

17/10/06
A new breast cancer screening clinic in the northern suburbs will give an extra 14,450 women access to free mammograms each year.
Health Minister Jim McGinty said Breastscreen WA planned to open the new clinic by mid-2007.
Mr McGinty said the State Government had allocated $600,000 to allow Breastscreen WA to fit-out the new clinic with two mammogram machines.
Breastscreen WA is currently negotiating a suitable lease in the Padbury/Duncraig area to complement the existing Joondalup North Clinic in Reid Promenade, Joondalup.
"More women die from breast cancer than any other cancer," the Minister said.
"With one in 11 women developing the disease before the age of 75, most Western Australians know someone who has breast cancer or has had it in the past.
"Early detection of breast cancer can mean the difference between life or death."
Between the existing Joondalup North Clinic and the planned Joondalup South Clinic, Breastscreen WA will be able to screen 22,450 women aged 40 and over each year.
The clinics will service women from an area bordered by Marmion in the south, Gnangara in the east, and Yanchep to the North.
Mr McGinty said the Joondalup South clinic would reduce pressure on the existing Joondalup North clinic and cut the time that local women waited for a mammogram.
"The Joondalup North clinic is currently overbooked and cannot take new clients," he said.
"Women living in the Joondalup area who request a mammogram for the first time currently have to travel to the Mirrabooka clinic so the new facility will mean women can have their screens closer to home."
There are seven other metropolitan clinics located in Cannington, Fremantle, Midland, Mirrabooka, Perth, Rockingham and Joondalup, with four mobile clinics servicing country areas.
"I commend the work of Breastscreen WA - which screens more than 85,000 women throughout Western Australia each year," the Minister said.
Until the new clinic is operational women from the Joondalup and Wanneroo shires wanting to book a free mammogram with BreastScreen WA should ring 13 20 50 to make an appointment at an alternative clinic of their choice.
Minister's office - 9422 3000