Screening bungle fear

THOUSANDS of lives could be put at risk because the Federal Government has bungled the rollout of two national cancer screening programs.

The new cervical screening program and an expansion of the bowel cancer screening program have been delayed by at least six months, due to staffing and technology issues.

Those cancers are two of f the nation’s biggest killers.

The new cervical screening program was supposed to begin on May 1 but a confidential memo sent to Australia’s chief health officers yesterday warns the “safety net” will not be ready.

As well as denying women access to the new human papillomavirus screening, the bungle may limit access to the old Pap smear program

Picture: GLENN HAMPSON Craig Hull and brother Graham, with their father's ashes. Mr Hull will fire the ashes into the sky in fireworks tonight.