Elspeth McLean

I was prepared for the triumphant arrival of Ronnie and Maggie, but foolishly forgot they would be accompanied by the talking scales.

If I thought sorting out myriad nooks and crannies in my hellhole of a house was bad for my blood pressure, my attempt for relief from that last week was worse.

Increasing regulation is not the way to make sure doctors and other health professionals behave well, the dean of the University of Otago's law school, Prof Mark Henaghan, says.

It could take three years to put all of the recommendations from the recent critical independent review of Breast-Screen Aotearoa into place.

Health Minister Tony Ryall has distanced himself from criticism of the impact of his call for fewer committees providing advice to the Ministry of Health.

Five of the 241 women affected by a breakdown in communication over BreastScreen Aotearoa (BSA) mammogram appointments were found to have cancer when they finally had mammograms, it has been revealed.

Suggestions the release of highly critical reports on the national breast-screening programme were delayed to avoid the general election and limit media exposure appear to have been rejected by the Ministry of Health.

People who may have forgotten they gave consent for their newborn baby's blood spots to be used in research after screening for metabolic disorders will not be contacted to see if they are still happy with that decision.

My rapidly diminishing number of brain cells has possibly not been helped by the inhalation of things found in odd containers during the basement clean-up.

Concerns have been raised in an independent report, and by experts and providers, about the sustainability of a national breast-screening service. Elspeth McLean reports.