DHF Annual Report 2009 - NT Health Digital Library - Northern ...

Well Women’s Cancer Screening ProgramWell Women’s Cancer Screening incorporates two national programs both of which aimto detect cancers at an early stage to prevent mortality and morbidity. These services areBreastScreen NT and the NT Cervical Screening program.BreastScreen NT is a free breast x-ray screening program targeted at women with nobreast symptoms who are aged between 50 and 69. Clinics are provided in Alice Springs,Katherine, Tennant Creek, Darwin, Palmerston and Nhulunbuy.Key AchievementsIn 2009-10 a total of 4855 women were screened and 85% (4167) were in the targetage group.Access to the Northern Territory electoral roll facilitated an increase in the participationof women aged 50–69 years in breast screening. Of all women screened, 64% lived inouter regional, 21% in remote, 13% in very remote areas and 1% were interstate womenscreened in the Territory.Step–down assessments continue for women with a screening detected abnormality.Under this process, women who have a screen detected abnormality may return to routinescreening after further X-rays. This has reduced the number of women needing to attenda full assessment clinic. In 2009-10 88 women attended a step-down assessment. Ofthese women, only 14 (15%) continued on to attend a full assessment clinic.The Darwin and Alice Springs services have been successfully converted to ComputedRadiography (CR) and additional CR equipment has been purchased to travel aroundto the remote towns of Tennant Creek, Katherine, Nhulunbuy and to Palmerston whereshort term screening blocks are held.Primary Health Care in NT PrisonsThe Department’s Community Health Branch has taken responsibility for the primary healthcare service in Territory Prisons. The Department has a requirement to provide primaryhealth care services to adult prisoners (prisoners) and juvenile detainees (detainees)within correctional institutions in the Territory. Prisoners and detainees under custody ofprimary health services that align with normal community standards of care.Key AchievementsThe Community Health Branch provided health screening to 3600 prisoners in correctionalinstitutions in the Territory.Palmerston Super Clinic and Urgent Care After-Hours ServiceThe Palmerston GP Super Clinic is a joint initiative of the Australian and Northern TerritoryGovernments to improve primary health care for the people of Palmerston and thesurrounding rural areas. The Super Clinic will provide multidisciplinary primary health care,with a focus on chronic disease prevention and self-management.The Palmerston Urgent Care After-Hours Service (UCAHS) was established in DecemberDepartment Health and Families 137