Woman denied free breast screening

By REBECCA WALSH

A Whitianga woman who enrolled in the Government's extended breast screening programme has been told she will not receive her free mammogram because there is not enough capacity to screen all enrolled women.

Beth Schwartfeger, 48, signed up for the screening programme after the Government in July extended it to women aged 45 to 70.

On calling the helpline a few weeks ago, she was told an appointment time would be sent to her. But when she called on Wednesday, after discovering the mobile screening unit was in town, she was told she would not be screened.

Mrs Schwartfeger said the person on the helpline told her women aged 45 to 49 would not be given appointments as there was not the capacity to screen them.

"It was a flat, blanket, definite 'no', which is what concerns me. They are not saying, 'Hey, in six months, maybe'," she said.

"It just doesn't seem right ... The Government keep promising more in the way of healthcare but it does not seem to be followed through."

Since 1998, women aged 50 to 64 have been eligible for a state-funded mammogram every two years.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths for women in New Zealand. About 2200 develop breast cancer each year and 640 die from it.

In February, Health Minister Annette King announced a $13.2 million extension to the BreastScreen Aotearoa programme to include women aged 45 to 70. She said it could save a further 32 lives a year.

Yesterday, National Screening Unit group manager Karen Mitchell said the minister had indicated that while the programme was being extended from July, it would take time to build the capacity (including staff, equipment and centres) to cope with the increased workload.

An extra 238,000 women would be eligible.

She said few women under 50 had been screened, as the priority group was women already enrolled in the programme, those who had been recalled (including women aged 65 to 69) and then women aged 45 to 49 "as regional capacity allows".

Mrs Schwartfeger might have to wait more than 12 months, said Ms Mitchell.

The regional provider would indicate when she was likely to get an appointment.

"She will ultimately get an appointment. She is eligible."

Ms Mitchell said about 7000 women in the 45 to 49 age group had contacted the call centre to enrol and about 1500 of those had already had a private mammogram.