Cairns breast surgeon, Aemelia Melloy, calls for immediate action to save lives
A Cairns-based breast surgeon is urging state and federal governments to provide support to Far North Queensland, as women continue to experience long delays to get a mammogram.
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A Cairns-based breast surgeon is urging state and federal governments to provide support to Far North Queensland, as women continue to experience long delays to get a mammogram.
Dr Aemelia Melloy said while the region had enough machines, a critical shortage of trained technicians was crippling efforts to meet the demand.
“The equipment is not the issue,” she said.
“What we really need are radiologists who can perform biopsies.”
Wait times have blown out to four months since private radiology provider Queensland X-Ray stopped offering the diagnostic services because they could not fill the radiologist position.
This has left I-MED Radiology as the only place offering breast screening appointments in the Far North.
It’s understood I-MED is currently only operating two days a week for breast cancer diagnostic appointments.
Dr Melloy said one service covering the “vast area” from Cairns to the Cape could mean “the difference between a curable and incurable cancer”.
“I worry about women who have worrying symptoms for breast cancer facing delays,” she said.
The breast cancer specialist suggested a solution could be training general practitioners with a special interest in breast health.
“The challenge lies in the co-ordination of this idea, between a federally funded service and Queensland Health, which has different requirements,” she said.
A spokeswoman from I-MED Radiology said they were committed to providing exceptional care and diagnostic imaging services to Cairns.
“We recognise that many challenges in accessing timely healthcare services stem from an industry-wide shortage of radiologists,” she said.
“We welcome the Australian health ministers’ decision to include diagnostic radiology on the Expedited Specialist Registration Pathway for Specialist International Medical Graduates.”
The I-MED spokeswoman said the initiative was a positive step towards addressing workforce shortages.
“We look forward to collaborating with the government on solutions such as expanded radiologist training and retention programs,” she said.
“Addressing these resourcing challenges is essential to ensuring better health outcomes for all Australians and bolstering healthcare capacity nationwide.
“We continue to manage our available resources and support urgent care needs at our Cairns clinic locations to meet the growing demand.”
Queensland X-Ray was also contacted for comment but did not respond.
Previously, a spokesman said it had suspended the Cairns service “until we can recruit at least one permanent doctor in Cairns”.
“We are actively trying to recruit additional women’s imaging radiologists statewide however there are very few radiologists interested … We remain hopeful that the suspension of service in Cairns is temporary.”
Queensland X-Ray provides women’s imaging services in Townsville, Mackay, Toowoomba, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
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