Mental health and cancer advocates applaud new health policies

Heather Camm, 73, says her breast cancer may have been a lot more serious if she had not had a mammogram when she turned 71. Photo / File

Mental health will be put under the spotlight and young and old will benefit with more free health checks and from the free breast screening age being increased under the new government.

Both Labour and NZ First campaigned strongly on addressing mental health and NZ First has stuck to its promise to re-establish a Mental Health Commission to fund, control and direct mental health services.

Labour and the Green Party have also agreed to make sure everyone has access to timely and high quality mental health services, including free counselling for those under 25.

Dave Macpherson, father of Nicky Stevens who committed suicide three years ago and a Waikato DHB board member, said the re-introduction of the commission would enable a group independent of the Ministry of Health and DHBs to monitor what was happening and recommend changes.

"It's not the final answer, it doesn't put extra money necessarily in there but it is going to lead to the right resources and right places hopefully."

Under Labour's deal with NZ First, for SuperGold Card holders there will be free annual health check including an eye check. It is a watered down policy version of the three annual health checks for SuperGold Card holders which NZ First campaigned on.

The age for free breast screening from 69 to 74 will also be progressively increased.

Breast Cancer Foundation New Zealand spokeswoman Adèle Gautier said the case for extending free screening was compelling from a survival point of view for older woman. At the moment women over 69 had to pay about $250 for a mammogram.

"... unfortunately woman tend to think because the mammograms have stopped they are no longer at risk when in fact your risk is higher at 70 than it was at 50."

Gautier said the policy would provide for two more mammograms which was important because early detection was better for both the patient and health system.

Year 9 students, who are generally aged between 12.5 and 14, will also have a free teen health check and there will be free doctors visits for children under 14. Currently they are free for children under 13.

Labour has previously promised to reduce GP fees for all.

Public Health Service Association chief executive Warren Lindberg believed the new policies would lend to a healthier future.

CASE STUDY
Heather Camm was 71 when she discovered she had breast cancer.
The Kapiti Coast woman had been reluctant to pay for the mammogram, but went after learning her friend had been diagnosed three months earlier.

"I had my last one free at 69 and when I turned 71, I was cross because I had to pay for it."

Her cancer had not spread and could be removed at day surgery.

"The doctor said to me another six months and it would have been a different story, I probably would have had full on breast cancer."

The retiree welcomed the age of the free screening programme being extended until 74.

"Some people couldn't afford it... It's a lot of money and a lot of people would say 'I've got to this stage, I will be alright from now on'."