ACT Chief Minister and Minister for Health Katy Gallagher MLA today announced there had been a 30 percent increase in the number of breast screens performed in the ACT.

In the year to May, there have been a total of 13,937 breast screens performed, which is 3,246 or 30 percent more than the same period last year.

"We're delivering more screenings and shorter waiting times to more ACT women," the Chief Minister said.

"This has been made possible by the recruitment of two additional radiographers in the second half of 2011.

"As well as delivering more screenings, more ACT women have been able to use the service with regional and south east New South Wales services now delivered by NSW, freeing up staff to concentrate on local patients.

"There have also been promotional activities to encourage women to use the service."

Other improvements to the Breast Screen ACT program include the introduction of digital mammography machines and a Picture Archiving Communications System (PACS) which have replaced the previous analogue machines used by BreastScreen ACT.

"The new mammography equipment provides higher quality images while generating lower radiation exposure for clients," the Chief Minister said.

"It is not only the volume of clients through the service which has seen significant improvement. The waiting times for ACT woman to access the ACT breast screen service has also improved."

"The waiting time from when a person books an appointment to when they actually receive a breast screen has improved significantly over the past 12 months.

"We have a target of 28 days from booking to screen and in the year to May, BreastScreen ACT is recording a result of 69 percent, a significant improvement on the 23 percent recorded just 12 months ago.

Over the same period the service has also managed to record a result of 100 per cent of woman who receive a normal results letter within 28 days of their initial screen. This is a significant achievement given the 30 percent increase in the number of screens performed this year.

The proportion of woman who require further assessment following their initial screen has improved from 75 percent in May 2010-11, to 88 percent at May 2011-12.

"Breast screening is an important aspect of women's health. I'm pleased more ACT women have been able to make use of this service and I encourage others to ensure they use this service to take care of their health," the Chief Minister concluded