Muller: ‘Local lives being put at risk’

Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller is unhappy a national bowel screening programme has been delayed in the Bay of Plenty until 2021. File photo.

Following discussions at the Health Select Committee at a hearing for the Bay of Plenty District Health Board's annual review, Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller is concerned the government's delay of a nationwide bowel cancer screening programme rollout locally could cost lives.

The National Bowel Screening Programme is a free programme for those aged between 60 and 74 years, and aims to save lives by detecting bowel cancer at an early stage when it can often be successfully treated.

'As the local MP, it's concerning to hear BOPDHB has been instructed by the Ministry to delay the local rollout of the nationwide bowel screening programme until the end of June 2021 – a year later than originally planned,” says Todd.

He says more than 3000 Kiwis are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year, and more than 1200 die from it.

'There are often no warning signs that the cancer is developing. Bowel cancer is the second highest cause of cancer death in New Zealand, and the earlier it is caught the higher the chances of successful treatment and survival.”

For that reason, Todd says, it is ‘absolutely critical' the Bay of Plenty has a bowel screening programme on time and as scheduled.

'It is simply not acceptable to needlessly put local lives at risk. If this programme is to be delayed, our community needs to be given an explanation – and it better be a good one.”

National Bowel Screening Programme director Stephanie Chapman says the overall timetable for roll-out of the National Bowel Screening Programme has been extended, to allow time to develop the software system that will be used to support the national programme.

'While the software system is developed, the roll-out is proceeding, with three DHBs – Wairarapa, Hut Valley and Waitemata – offering free bowel screening, with Southern about to join in April. A National Coordination centre and four regional centres were established late last year to coordinate the national programme.”

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5 comments

Is

Posted on 23-02-2018 08:44 | By Merlin

Is the delay for the development of the software programme due to the lack of funding in the health system by the previous government which has caused the delay in the software programmes?


Political point scoring

Posted on 23-02-2018 11:55 | By maildrop

If National were in they would be pushing it out as well because the software hasn't been developed yet. And Todd & Co would be saying absolutely nothing. I don't recall Todd & Co ever expressing concern for cancer patients in BOP when Coleman was refusing to fund Keytruda. Amazing how Todd & Co are now very concerned about things all of a sudden.


Yeah Right

Posted on 23-02-2018 15:46 | By Told you

How come we have 9 years of a National Government and nothing was done until the year of the election, now they say hurry up and get the program running, He is only trying to score political points which I find very shabby.


Ok, Todd - Here’s your good reason...

Posted on 23-02-2018 16:06 | By Babs

Over past years there has been such a dire lack of attention and focus across much of the health sector that one cannot work miracles overnight to rectify years of neglect (kinda just like our polluted waterways that will also take time to rectify). Would you like to comment on the state of our mental health services and facilities or the overburdened and underfunded hospitals, staff etc Please Todd, both you and Simon need to soften your tone and delivery. Did your party implement and fund and provide a nationwide bowl screening service across all New Zealand?


Great

Posted on 26-02-2018 18:39 | By Merlin

Great the opposition can express concern when the health system under their control for 9 years have found to be really wanting.So sad.


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