Pātiki and Waharua Kōpito patterns
Health New Zealand, in partnership with Waikanae Health, is pleased to announce a new breast screening site for women in the Kāpiti Coast region.
The site is a refurbishment of an existing purpose-built x-ray room within the Waikanae Health premises and includes installation of state-of-the art mammography and diagnostics equipment.
Having a fixed site in the centre of Waikanae town, with ample parking and close to public transport, will bring the breast screening service closer to home for women living in the region - making appointments more convenient and easier to access.
Thanks to everyone involved in this community project, Kāpiti Coast wāhine will no longer need to wait until the mobile unit (which has been servicing the region) visits or need to travel outside the region for breast screening, says Colin Spratt, Health New Zealand’s Group Manager, Sub-Specialty Medicine for Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley.
Dr Herman Van Kradenburg, Managing Director of Waikanae Health, and his team say they are delighted to partner with Health New Zealand and BreastScreen Aotearoa Central to provide this important service for local women. “We wish to extend a warm welcome to all the women who will be coming into Waikanae Health for their routine breast screening”.
“This is a great addition to our service and is a fantastic partnership with our GP colleagues. Importantly, this initiative improves access to care and protects women’s health,” adds Jamie Duncan, Group Director of Operations for Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley.
The opening of the site on Wednesday 15 October by Minister Simeon Brown, Minister for Health and Nicola Grigg, Minister for Women, coincides with the national rollout extending free breast screening to women aged 70 and 74.
The new fixed site at Waikanae Health will provide capacity for the additional women who will start to come through as a result of extending the age of breast screening.
Like other cancer screening programmes, breast cancer screening can help detect early cancers, determine treatment and save lives.
Women who are not enrolled in the national breast screening programe, will be sent an invitation from a BreastScreen Aotearoa provider if they are eligible to screen.
Women can also sign up online using this link: Sign up for free breast screening (external link)