Nova Scotia Breast Screening Program worried about skipped appointments

The program for breast screening in Nova Scotia was put on hold during COVID-19. In recent weeks the organization has brought back diagnostic screenings for people whose first screening showed irregularities that necessitated need a follow-up appointment.

“We’ve had days where we’ve had 20 appointments booked, and eight women not show up,” says Trena Metcalfe, program manager for the Nova Scotia Breast Screening Program.

Metcalfe says that at various locations across the province, services are being re-implemented in different ways.

“It depends on the site really. There’s some sites with longer wait times than others. So but there always usually is generally a bit of a wait time at least,” she tells NEWS 95.7’s The Todd Veinotte Show.

Those wait times are typically 97 days for an initial screening, and about 40 days for a follow-up diagnostic test. But right now there are fewer tests happening.

“We’re only booking a small number of women in order to ensure the physical distancing, and ensure that the waiting rooms aren’t crowded,” says Metcalfe.

But the clinics are worried that people aren’t showing up for screenings because they have fears about COVID. But she wants to reassure them that there are adequate restrictions in place.

“Usually within about 48 hours before the appointments we’re making contact with them to book the appointment and to screen them for the COVID questions at the time,” Metcalfe explains. “So it’s I guess a little bit upsetting when you’ve made that contact and they’ve accepted the appointment and then they don’t show up.”

Metcalfe says patients are screened for COVID when they book their appointment and when they show up for it.

“We’re ensuring that nobody’s coming to the hospital that is at risk of having COVID,” she says.

There are also Plexiglas barriers installed at reception desks and digital health card readers installed to limit human contact.

“The health care workers are wearing PPE as per the infection control recommendations,” she says. “The patients are not required to wear masks but they are welcome to wear one if they want to cause they are in close contact.”

Metcalfe hopes that those people who cancelled or missed their diagnostic appointments will rebook in the future when they feel safe again to do so.

“That if someone has missed one we will certainly be more than willing to help get them back in,” she says. “And if someone’s not comfortable coming right now that’s also okay, they can tell us that and we can book them an appointment down the road a bit.”

For those who are waiting for regular screening appointments, the program hopes to be able to accommodate those soon.

“We’re in the planning process now of trying to determine when we could potentially start screening again and that may occur before we’re completely caught up with the diagnostics,” Metcalfe says.

For more information visit their website, https://breastscreening.nshealth.ca/.