Sharing your breast cancer experience with the media

There was a pilot '''Step Down" clinic at the local hospital here where woman who had a call back could go to get rescreened. After 12 months they closed it. Breast screen now sends a recalls a letter telling them to front up at Ringwood. 

Predictably people dont question this, despite Maroondah Health being 4 hours away if you drive and 7, yes 7, hours away if you need to use public transport.This when there is a  perfectly appropriate facility in located 50 metres away from where the original screen was taken.

So why are people being called to the big smoke? Money. Breast Screen gets paid for follow up services at Maroondah, and nothing if further tests are done locally. This is bloody disgraceful and I lobbied for years to get an addition to the recall letter stating it didn't matter where you went, you must needed further investigation. No, they wouldnt do it. Grrr.

Yes Breast Screen is a great service, but they don't always have the patients at the top of the priority list.