More bowel screening issues revealed

HUNDREDS of New Zealanders missed out on potentially lifesaving bowel cancer screening because of another problem with invitations.

Documents obtained under the Official Information Act reveal the oversight meant another 333 New Zealanders were not invited for free screening.

The Ministry of Health has also confirmed retests were done after some people waited too long to return tests — increasing the risk of expired kits and inaccurate results.

A bowel screening pilot started in the Waitemata DHB in 2011 detected cancer in 375 people, leading the previous government to commit to national screening.

Southern District Health Board joins the screening programme this month.

In February, Health Minister David Clark revealed the ministry last year wrote to 2500 eligible Waitemata residents who did not receive screening invitations because their addresses weren’t updated on a register.

Three people went on to develop bowel cancer, one of whom died. The ministry said it was not possible to say whether being included in screening would have changed those outcomes.

Dr Clark ordered an independent review of the national programme and apologised unreservedly.

Information now released under the Official Information Act shows the day before that announcement, Dr Clark received a report from his ministry detailing how more New Zealanders had been missed.

‘‘A second issue has arisen with the pilot due to addresses being locked in the BSP [bowel screening pilot information technology system] potentially affecting 2097 people, seven of whom have subsequently developed bowel cancer,’’ the ministry reported.

‘‘The NSU [national screening unit], working with Waitemata DHB, will follow the same approach as for the previous issue.’’

In releasing information, Mr Clark’s office said while the initial advice was 2097 people could have missed out, that was later revised to 333. None of that group has a current diagnosis of bowel cancer.

The ministry has sent letters of apology and invited them for screening.

Asked why the issue was not outlined when he announced the review, Dr Clark said in a statement: ‘‘I am aware of the issue, and it further vindicates my decision to hold an independent inquiry.’’

Clinical director of the national screening unit Dr Jane O’Hallahan said the ministry took full responsibility for the oversights.

‘‘The second problem arose when some addresses in the bowel screening register were locked so they couldn’t be overwritten . . . Mail continued to be sent to an old address.’’

The ministry also confirmed another issue around the risk of expired test kits.

More than 200 people who received a negative result were advised to complete another test, after they returned their completed kits at least 10 months after it was sent to them.

Of that group, 151 did another test, and no cancers were found.

Bowel Cancer New Zealand spokeswoman Mary Bradley said questions needed to be asked about why the ministry had not been upfront with the public.

‘‘You have to wonder what else they have not told us.

Each year more than 3000 New Zealanders are diagnosed with bowel cancer and more than 1200 die from it.

There can be no warning signs that cancer is developing, and early detection is critical.

Ms Bradley said the country could not afford any more delays in the rollout, and it was worrying the last five DHBs would not start screening until 2021.

Hutt Valley and Wairarapa boards began screening last July and Waitemata moved from its pilot to the national programme in January.

Screening will be offered every two years to men and women aged 60 to 74.

Once fully implemented, it is expected to detect 500700 cancers a year.