Annette KING
Health Spokesperson
7 April 2013
MEDIA STATEMENT
The facts: Screening programmes on back-burner
Delays to cancer monitoring and re-prioritising of screening programmes have all the hallmarks of another unfortunate
experiment, Labour’s Health spokesperson Annette King says.
“Health Minister Tony Ryall and his offsider Jo Goodhew have spent the last week trumpeting the ‘fact’ they are
‘committed’ to improving screening, diagnostic and cancer treatment for Kiwis and that more women are taking part in
early detection programmes.
“But when at least six projects, aimed at monitoring and screening for cervical screening have been put on the
back-burner, it is difficult to see how their ‘better, sooner, more convenient’ mantra might apply.
“Surely the ministers haven’t forgotten the Cartwright inquiry or the fallout in Gisborne following botched monitoring
processes. That is why Labour expanded and strengthened the National Screening Unit.
“Yet we now have the Ministry of Health reporting (attached) it doesn’t have the staff to carry out basic monitoring, evaluation and data collection work as part of the cervical
screening programme.
“In his drive to save money Mr Ryall is using job vacancies to cut costs. That is not good news, as he would have the
country believe, but an uncomfortable truth he is trying to hide.
“We cannot let years of work since the Gisborne inquiry go to waste. If we haven’t learned from that, then there is every likelihood history will repeat.
“The focus for Mr Ryall should be on quality health care and on ensuring the staff and services are in place to carry
out programmes implemented for very, very good reason.”
ENDS