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.
The two independent review documents were dated August last
year but not released until December.
There is a brief mention of the positive aspects of the
review in the National Screening Unit's December online
newsletter, but no link provided to the reports.
Responding to Otago Daily Times' questions on the timing of
the release of the reports, a Ministry of Health spokesman
said that before the reports could be released it was
important the ministry's chief medical officer, Dr Don
Mackie, who was only appointed in August, had an opportunity
to consider them.
Dr Mackie is chairing the steering group which has been set
up to assess and prioritise the 22 recommendations from the
review.
It was also important that the person appointed to the
position of director national services purchasing for the
National Health Board was in place, the spokeswoman said.
Jill Lane was appointed to that role in November.
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