Support on screening concerns

Dick Bunton.
Dick Bunton.
The Southern District Health Board has followed up with most of the women involved in concerns its breast-screening programme might have had a higher than acceptable rate of false negative readings.

Chief medical officer (Otago) Dick Bunton said the DHB had followed up 26 of the 28 cases to offer advice and support.

Two women could not be contacted.

One had died and her family was in contact with the service.

"The deceased person's family has had an opportunity to meet with the clinical adviser from BreastScreen Aotearoa and is having additional follow-up through the breast-screening service," Mr Bunton said.

A Ministry of Health review last month cleared BreastScreen HealthCare, saying the service had an acceptable rate of false negative readings.

However, it recommended the unit continue to receive external support, because of a radiologist vacancy in Dunedin.

The investigation was ordered in March after concerns were raised by a clinical audit that the 28 women might have had a delay in their diagnosis.

Mr Bunton said the investigation resulted in "vindication", but also a "tightening up" of paperwork.

"Out of a lot of anxiety and conflict comes something positive."

The service was still trying to recruit a radiologist, who would probably also be the unit's clinical leader, Mr Bunton said.

Retired Dunedin breast surgeon Stephen Packer was the interim clinical leader.

Counties Manukau District Health Board was providing external readings of screenings.

eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz

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