The WA component of the national breast cancer screening program has become the first in Australia to connect to My Health Record.

It means that women in WA will now be able to have mammogram results immediately uploaded to their My Health Record, after assessment by two radiologists.

Health minister Greg Hunt says the move will fast-track results and ensure they are kept in on one place where they can be accessed by specialists at any time.

BreastScreen WA provides free mammograms to women aged 40 and over and has conducted more then 2 million screening mammograms since 1989.

In a submission on  My Health Record to a senate committee in 2018 the peak national organisation for Australians affected by breast cancer said there were benefits to having all of a person’s records in one place and that My Health Record could reduce fragmentation in cancer care.

Breast Cancer Network Australia said the digital system had particular relevance to women with breast cancer because of the length of treatment, risk of side effects and lifelong follow-up care.

It said a survey of members conducted that year showed almost 50 per cent wanted a My Health Record.

According to the government, test results from more than 95 per cent of all public pathology labs are now available online and all public laboratories in NSW, the NT, Queensland, SA, WA and Tasmania are connected to the digital health system.

More than 3.8 million pathology reports were uploaded in March taking the number of pathology reports uploaded to My Health Record to nearly 43 million.

Interim Chief Executive Office of the Agency, Bettina McMahon says the focus is now on supporting the remaining private sector laboratories to connect.

There currently 11.74 My Health Records of which 14 per cent contain information.

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