Four new lifesaving BreastScreen NSW vans will roll into regional and remote communities under a $21.7 million investment by the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government to make breast cancer screening more accessible.
The NSW Liberals and Nationals are committed to improving health services for women, with re-election announcements of $16.3 million for new endometriosis and pelvic pain services, $7 million in research grants for gynaecological cancers, a $4 million expansion of the $80 million Affordable IVF Initiative, $2 million to help women suffering miscarriage, pregnancy loss and stillbirth and a $95 million infrastructure overhaul for The Royal Hospital for Women's Newborn Care Centre and Birthing Unit at Randwick.
The NSW Liberals and Nationals in Government have also committed $40 million as part of the 2022-23 NSW Budget to establish four Menopause Hubs and 12 specialised services across the state.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the new BreastScreen NSW vans will visit up to 50 more communities for the first time, including in Northern and Western NSW, saving women significant travel time.
"The NSW Government is committed to making sure that every woman in NSW has the very best opportunity to detect breast cancer early, no matter where they live," Mr Hazzard said.
"These extra vans will substantially cut travel time for women to access screening, and reduce barriers for those with mobility and other access challenges. It will also increase choice, providing more options for screening across the state."
The announcement of $21.7 million over four years will enable the purchasing of four custom-built mobile vans and staff to operate them and is on top of almost $16.5 million in extra funding to help ensure any woman whose screening was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic is able to get a booking as soon as possible.
BreastScreen NSW currently operates 49 fixed site locations and 15 mobile vans, delivering services at up to 200 locations per year. By expanding the capacity of BreastScreen NSW, this will increase to up to 250 locations.
Minister for Women and Regional Health Bronnie Taylor said one in seven women in NSW will develop breast cancer and the best time to treat cancer is when it is still very small and confined to one area.
"As a former cancer nurse, I encourage all eligible women to book into a free screening every two years and protect themselves from a potentially deadly cancer. An X-ray of the breast can find cancers as small as a grain of rice, before any changes are noticed," Mrs Taylor said.
"When breast cancer is found early, it's easier to treat and most women are able to recover and get back to their normal lives."
The NSW Government, through the Cancer Institute NSW, has invested more than $512 million since 2014 in the BreastScreen NSW program, including $371.5 million for free screening services.
Since 2011, the NSW Government, through the Cancer Institute NSW, has also invested $11.8 million into breast cancer research.
Under a re-elected NSW Liberals and Nationals Government, investments in women's health services will include:
· $95 million to expand and improve the Royal Hospital for Women's Newborn Care Centre and Birthing Unit
· $16.3 million over four years to improve the management and care of patients with endometriosis and other causes of pelvic pain, with two comprehensive Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Hubs (one in metropolitan Sydney and one in regional NSW) and an extra 14 FTE dedicated staff
· $7 million in research grants for ovarian and other gynaecological cancers, including provision of a $5 million Translational Research Grant and four $500,000 fellowships to support research for future treatments.
· $4 million expansion of the NSW Government's $80 million Affordable IVF Initiative announced in the 2022-23 NSW Budget to include a $2,000 rebate for women who undergo egg freezing
· $2 million to provide over the phone, in-person and online support services for bereaved women and families, including grief counselling, suffering from miscarriage, pregnancy loss and stillbirth.
