Increasing wait times for mammograms could have 'potentially tragic' consequences
Maxine Austin was surprised she was unable to book in for her regular mammogram. (ABC Wide Bay: Nikki Sorbello)
In short:
Women in regional Queensland are waiting four to nine months for diagnostic mammograms, compared to three to four weeks in metropolitan areas.
Industry bodies say a critical underfunding of breast imaging services, combined with worker shortages, is leading to "unacceptable" wait times.
What's Next?
The federal government says it is currently reviewing Medicare-funded diagnostic breast imaging services.
Regional Queensland women are waiting up to nine times longer for a private mammogram than their city counterparts, according to the Australian Diagnostic Imaging Association (ADIA).
ADIA chief executive officer Chris Kane said its members were reporting women in metropolitan areas typically waited three to four weeks for diagnostic breast screening at private radiology clinics.
"That's not something to celebrate, but it's a much better outcome than what we see in regional Queensland,"Mr Kane said.
"Where mammography is available at all [in regional Queensland], patients are typically waiting between four and nine months."
Women in regional Queensland are waiting four to nine months for a mammogram, compared to three to four weeks in metro areas. (ABC News)
Months wait for scan
Maxine Austin from Bundaberg, 350 kilometres north of Brisbane, is one of those facing a long wait.
Aged in her 60s, Ms Austin was due for her biennial mammogram in October.
"I was told I couldn't make an appointment until mid-next year,"Ms Austin said.
"As of right now, I don't have an appointment."
Ms Austin, who has a family history of breast cancer, has her breast imaging — including mammograms and ultrasound — at a private provider.
Regional Queensland women are waiting up to nine times longer than their city counterparts for private mammograms. (Supplied: BreastScreen Victoria)
The state government's BreastScreen Queensland service offers free mammograms for women aged over 40 who do not have symptoms.
In the Wide Bay region where Ms Austin lives, the wait time at BreastScreen Queensland is generally up to four weeks.
Barriers delay detection
Long wait times for mammograms could have "potentially tragic" consequences, said Mr Kane.
Chris Kane warns the consequences of long wait times for mammograms could be tragic. (ABC News: Kyle Harley)
"We know that for women with aggressive tumours, waiting for months could be the difference between treatable disease and metastatic malignancy," Mr Kane said.
"That's potentially the difference between life and death."
The Wide Bay has the highest mortality rate for all cancers in regional and remote Queensland, according to the Chief Health Officer's most recent The Health of Queenslanders report in 2022.
It also topped the list for the highest rate of breast cancer in women, with 85.2 people per 100,000 diagnosed, compared with the Queensland average of 72.4.
Breast Cancer Network Australia said private diagnostic imaging needed as many resources as the BreastScreen program.
Vicki Durston from Breast Cancer Network Australia says women faced with barriers will delay getting a mammogram. (Supplied.)
"When we see barriers for women to be able to access the screening and preventative health needs, it can delay things," Vicki Durston, the director of policy, advocacy and support services, said.
"The problem we see is that if there are delays then breast cancers will not be picked up early."
Scan a 'loss maker'
Medicare-subsidised breast screening services, privately and through BreastScreen, showed the number of Queensland women being screened each year remained steady at around 235,000.
The ADIA said the months-long wait for private breast screening in regional Queensland was partly due to decades-old Medicare rebates.
Mr Kane said bulk billing rates for mammograms were "well under" 50 per cent, compared with overall bulk billing rates for X-rays and scans sitting around 75 per cent.
"Mammography is a loss maker, so it isn't viable to provide everywhere because of how low the [Medicare] rebates are," he said.
"And second, there just aren't enough radiologists choosing to specialise in breast imaging because it's so underfunded."
Medical radiation science students are choosing to delay or drop out of courses due to the high cost of clinical placements. (Getty/Jupiterimages)
The Australasian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Technology said the cost of clinical placements for students was contributing to a shortage of radiologists.
"Up to 25 per cent of our current students are delaying their studies or looking to actually drop out, because they simply can't afford to live,"president Naomi Gibson said.
She said a Medical Radiation Science degree required up to 56 weeks of clinical placement, often away from home.
The federal government's Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) of $331.65 a week to offset the cost of practical placements, currently only applies to those studying nursing, midwifery, teaching or social work.
The federal government will review the CCP in 2027-2028.
A spokesperson for the federal Department of Health, Disability and Ageing said the department was currently reviewing Medicare-funded diagnostic breast imaging services.
"As part of this review, the structure of the items and the fees for breast imaging services are being considered," the statement said.
The spokesperson said the decision to bulk bill remains the decision of service providers, irrespective of the Medicare fee.