High demand expected as Gander adds mammography units

The head of the regional health authority in central Newfoundland expects that patients will make strong use of a new mammography unit that could be operational within a year.

The unit to be added at James Paton Memorial Hospital in Gander was announced in Tuesday's provincial budget, and will double capacity at the institution, which serves communities in a large area.

Central Health chief executive officer Karen McGrath said she expects that many new patients will take advantage of the service, especially since the Newfoundland and Labrador government is expanding its screening program to include women as young as 40 who obtain a referral from a primary caregiver.

"Currently 75 percent of the [patients aged] 50 to 69 are accessing the program, then that's going to be a fair number, I believe," McGrath told CBC News.

"I would suggest to you we'll definitely need the use of this machine full time for the expanded program."

Government expects to spend about $330,000 for Gander's second mammography unit.

The hospital will need to undergo some renovations to make room for it. McGrath said it will take between six months and year to get the unit up and running.