City of Bunbury to push for more diagnostic services for breast cancer

The City of Bunbury will push for greater cancer diagnostic services in the South West region at the next South West Country Zone WALGA meeting, hoping the lobbying will reach the State Government. There are only two assessment clinics in Bunbury per month — happening fortnightly — at the St John of God Bunbury Hospital, leading to Bunbury city councillor Michelle Steck calling for change. To compound the infrequency, the Bunbury clinic is the only permanent regional assessment clinic south of Perth and one of just five in the State. Ms Steck said the system was not fair for women. “At the end of the day women do not want to wait for a diagnostic,” she said. “It’s the most scariest thing. That wait period is just not fair, you’d rather just know and get on with your treatment. “There’s only two clinics a month, I’m not talking about your initial scan, I’m talking about diagnostics of cancer and what form of cancer, what stage of cancer you are and even benign cancers like myself.” According to statistics from the North Metropolitan Health Service — which operates Breast Screen WA — the initial Bunbury screening clinic sees up to 600 women each month and saw 7123 women during the 2023-24 financial year for mammogram scans. For those who’s screening mammogram comes back with an abormal result, they are then asked to attend an assessment clinic with either the public Breast Screen WA or through a private practice. The wait time between the screening result and assessment in Bunbury is almost a month. Ms Steck said the lack of services meant many women were left in the lurch, even if their results ended up being benign. A spokesperson for the North Metropolitan Health Service said work was already being done to relocate the assessment clinic at St John of God Bunbury Hospital to increase capacity. “Activities are under way to relocate the clinic currently based at St John of God Bunbury Hospital to a nearby and larger location,” they said. The spokesperson said appointments for an assessment appointment were available in about a month’s time. “Upon identification of an abnormal screening mammogram women can remain within the program and attend a BreastScreen WA assessment clinic or opt to follow a private pathway which will result in out-of-pocket costs,” they said. “BreastScreen WA provides fortnightly assessment appointments at the Bunbury BreastScreen WA Clinic (alternate Fridays). “Assessment clinics are currently available at Fiona Stanley Hospital, Royal Perth Hospital, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, the Joondalup BreastScreen WA clinic and the Bunbury BreastScreen WA Clinic. “There are currently assessment appointments available in late November at our Bunbury clinic.” It is hoped the motion will go to the State Council meeting and spark action from the State Government with less than five months until the State election. The next meeting of the South West Country Zone will be held November 22 in Manjimup before the State Council meets in Busselton in December.