The government has capped off its week of health announcements with a $472,000 funding grant for women's cancer counselling.
The grant will allow Genetic Health Queensland to appoint two additional genetic health counsellors and increase their pathology testing capacity.
It follows an earlier announcement that Queensland would become the first jurisdiction in Australia to pre-book women for their free breast screen, in an effort to increase the state's screening rate.
Health Minister Lawrence Springborg said the counselling service would be managed through the state's largest health service, Metro North, with telehealth services available to women in rural and regional areas.
"Genetic counsellors can help provide relief from the uncertainty of being at high risk of some cancers or syndromes because they run in your family," he said.
"Our current counsellors can see up to eight patients per week so additional staffing will improve our ability to provide this possibly life changing service."
Separate funding of $350,000 each year, scheduled to continue until 2018, will continue to be made available for emotional and psychological support counselling.
For more information on Genetic Health Queensland go to www.health.qld.gov.au/ghq/default.asp
