Examination patient told to stay home

A Far North woman will have to wait another week for her colonoscopy despite spending three unpleasant days preparing for it. Photo / 123RF

A Far North woman who spent three days undergoing the less than pleasant process of preparing for a colonoscopy was deeply unimpressed to be told 24 hours before the procedure that it had been postponed.

The woman, who the Northland Age won't name, had an appointment at Whangarei Hospital on Tuesday. That had now been postponed until Tuesday next week.

The reason given for the delay was that there was a problem with the registration of the doctor, from the UK.

She had been waiting five months for the colonoscopy, with some trepidation, having been diagnosed with cancer 16 years ago.

"If it is cancer it will be secondary," she said.

On Monday she was "stressed to the max," given that the good or bad news had been further delayed, while her new appointment meant she wouldn't make her first day back at work after her summer holiday.

And she would have to go through the preparatory process a second time.

"Someone needs to be pulled up over this," she said.

"I thought that by now the worst of it would be over and done with. Someone needs to be held accountable."

She had lodged an official complaint.

Andrew Potts, Northland District Health Board general manager surgical, pathology and ambulatory services, said it was very regrettable that the appointment had to be rearranged due to an unforeseen delay with regard to the registration of a new doctor.

"We apologise for the distress caused," he said.

"Another appointment was made as soon as practicable when it became clear that the procedure could not be performed."