Click-and-collect BreastScreen service proves a success You are here:HomeNewsroomNews Pictured: (Above) St Vincent’s BreastScreen radiographer Jess Gawne at the Rose Clinic at David Jones city store. An innovative click-and-collect style approach enabled a breast screening clinic at the heart of one of Melbourne’s most vibrant retail hubs to resume its valuable work during Victoria’s longest lockdown period. The Rose Clinic, operated by St Vincent’s BreastScreen at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne is one of BreastScreen Victoria’s most popular breast screening services. Uniquely positioned within David Jones’s city store, the clinic had to pause operating when the retailer closed its doors temporarily in accordance with the State Government’s lockdown restrictions. Anne Barton, Operations Manager at St Vincent’s BreastScreen worked closely with David Jones to introduce the novel click-and-collect concept as a way of allowing many clients with appointments already booked before Melbourne’s sixth lockdown period was enforced to still be screened, safely and without delay. Check-in for your check-up Clients are notified via text message of their confirmed appointment and use the QR code outside the store entrance to gain access. They are then escorted by a staff member to the BreastScreen clinic inside where they undergo a series of COVID-safe measures at reception, including temperature testing and hand sanitising. “Everyone who has attended an appointment this way has found the process really easy, safe and seamless,” Anne says. “It’s so important to attend regular screening as it enables us to pick up early cancers. This set-up has meant we can still get most of the clinic’s pre-booked appointments through the door during this lockdown, so once things lift we are not faced with a backlog of people needing appointments at this site.” A positive experience Anne says the feedback from clients about this special service has been incredibly positive. “They are just so happy and grateful to be able to still come into the city for their appointment,” she says. “One client got dressed up in heels and wore pearls; she said it was her first time in the city for a while.” Another chose to park her car near the Shrine of Remembrance and walk through the park to get to her appointment, so she could enjoy a bit of the city landscape she’d been missing. “It makes me proud to be part of an initiative like this with a team that has adapted swiftly with change to continue to meet our community’s healthcare needs,” Anne says. The Rose Clinic click-and-collect service will operate until retail can open for trade again and the clinic can resume its normal service. Pictured: (Below) St Vincent’s BreastScreen radiographer Lesley Chan with Rose Clinic receptionist Luisa Tabacco.