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Breast Screening

Encouraging patient participation

Breast cancer screenings in New Zealand are delivered through national programmes overseen by Te Whatu Ora. Breast Screen Aotearoa is the national program running the breast screening, Women 45-69 are eligible to enroll in the program. Its important to encourage your population to enroll in the Breast Screen Aotearoa program.

Screening Criteria Eligibility

  • Women aged 45 to 69, or qualify for the extended screening age range up to age 74
  • Have not had a mammogram from another provider within the last 12 months 
  • Have been free of breast cancer for at least 5 years
  • Are eligible for public health services in Aotearoa New Zealand.  Who contacts patients?

 

Who contacts patients?

For Breast Screen Aotearoa:

  • Te Whatu Ora manages the program via BreastScreen Aotearoa
  • Patients are usually invited via email, text or letter through secure invitation
  • Patients can enroll by signing up online or calling 0800 270 200

    The role of the general practice

    General practices play a supporting and trusted role, alongside the national programmes.
    Practices are encouraged to:

    • Encourage eligible patients to take part in breast screening enrol in Breast Screen Aotearoa.
    • Provide information and answer questions
    • Reassure patients about what screening involves
    • Support patients who are unsure whether they are eligible or have received an invitation
    • Provide clinical follow-up and ongoing care if a screening result is positive

      How to Educate your patients with Vensa - MT Evolution

      Practices may choose to send general health encouragement messages to increase screening uptake.

      Run CBIT report

      It is important to ensure patient files are up to date before contacting patients. It is recommend to run a quick CBIT report (CBIT > SCREENING > BREAST SCREENING INBOX DETECTED...) to see if there are any patients that have a breat screening inbox document, but no mammography screening entry in theri file. Review any entries and update as needed.

       

      Sending bulk message

      See here for instruction how to send bulk texts from query builder. messages may be sent via text message, Whatsapp or Secure Message (WIP).


      Example Message encouraging patient participation using Te Whatu Ora Resources

      Your GP team at [Practice name] supports the BreastScreen Aotearoa screening programme. If you receive an invitation to enroll we encourage you to take part. Screening can find cancer early, even before symptoms. Learn more at timetobreastscreen.nz

       

      This page is provided for general information only. While we aim to keep content accurate and up to date, we do not guarantee completeness or accuracy. Screening programmes, eligibility, and delivery may change. For the most current and official information, please refer to Te Whatu Ora at info.health.nz.

      References: https://info.health.nz/health-topics/keeping-healthy/cancer-screening/breast-screening/about-breast-screening