Jackie Blue MP
National Party Associate Health Spokeswoman
22 February 2006
Urgency needed on cancer waiting lists
Cancer patients are continuing to wait far too long to see specialists for radiation and chemotherapy treatment, says
National’s Associate Health spokeswoman, Dr Jackie Blue.
“Patients who are classed as needing urgent or curative radiation treatment appear to be seen in a timely fashion, but I
am concerned about the 80 patients who have been waiting four weeks or more for palliative radiation treatment – a group
that has been growing in number since 2003.”
Dr Blue says those in the palliative group have often just been told their cancer has spread, and for them to have to
wait more than four weeks is, in her experience as a doctor, very stressful.
Dr Blue is also concerned at the difference in waiting times from first assessment between cancer centres:
- Auckland District Health Board Cancer Centre – 21 days.
- Waikato Cancer Centre – 13 days.
- MidCentral District Health Board Cancer Centre – 11 days.
- Capital and Coast Cancer Centre – 5 days.
“These figures, added to an increase in the number needing chemotherapy in regional cancer centres, and a TV1 report
that some patients are waiting 4-6 weeks before seeing an oncologist for chemotherapy, paint a very grim picture indeed.
“Though there seems to be hand-wringing general agreement that there is a serious problem, I don’t see any solutions
being offered.
“The time for hand-wringing is over. Urgent action is needed.”
ENDS