MORE women are having breast screens in the ACT with a 30 per cent increase since last year, according to Government data.

In the year to May, there has been a total of 13,937 breast screens performed –  3246 more than the same period last year.

“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,” Chief Minister and Minister for Health Katy Gallagher said.

“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.

“This [progress] 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 southeast New South Wales services now delivered by NSW, freeing up staff to concentrate on local patients.”

Ms Gallagher said technical improvements to the BreastScreen ACT program has also been instrumental, including the introduction of digital mammography machines and a Picture Archiving Communications System (PACS).