Cervical care scheme 'improving'

Despite a lack of auditing and some workforce deficiencies, the National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP) is improving, according to an Audit Office report made public yesterday.

The Auditor-General was asked to look at the NCSP, which costs about $30 million a year to run, after a report in July by British expert Euphemia McGoogan criticised slow progress in several areas - particularly workforce development, information technology and the audit of cancer cases.

The Government appointed Dr McGoogan to report on the implementation of the 2001 Gisborne Cervical Screening Inquiry's recommendations.

The inquiry was prompted by thousands of women having their smears misread by Gisborne pathologist Michael Bottrill in the years before 1996.

Dozens developed cervical cancer and some died.

Controller and Auditor-General Kevin Brady said yesterday that considerable progress had been made, but there was still work to be done, particularly in the area of quality assurance.

While no screening programme was perfect, organised cervical screening could potentially reduce the incidence of cancer by up to 91 per cent, he said.

In the 10 years to 1997, the incidence of cervical cancer had declined by 39 per cent, and mortality rates had fallen by 44 per cent during the same period.

"Cervical screening is not without its limitations and even high-quality screening programmes will not be able to prevent all cases of invasive cervical cancer," he said.

"These limitations can be minimised if screening is properly organised and appropriately monitored and evaluated."

The report found that 22 of the 46 Gisborne inquiry recommendations had been implemented so far - 12 more than when Dr McGoogan reported six months ago.

A further nine were due to be completed by June 2004.

While the cancer audit was two years behind schedule, it was "difficult to see how more progress could have been made".

Health Minister Annette King said the report showed the programme was making very good progress.

"The Audit Office has some concern about standards, monitoring and evaluation of provider audits," Ms King said.

"I am assured that work is under way to address these issues and the national screening unit has rated as a priority regular review of its interim policy and quality standards, and has already reviewed laboratory standards, colposcopy service standards and developed new NCSP regional service standards."

- NZPA

Controller and Auditor General:

Ministry of Health: What Further Progress Has Been Made to Implement the Recommendations of the Cervical Screening Inquiry?

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Herald Feature: Gisborne Cervical Screening Inquiry