Surgeon calls out SDHB

CANCER patients are suffering because of Southern District Health Board's ‘‘pathetic’’ failure to fix its colonoscopy service and the Health Minister needs to intervene, a leading surgeon says.

Christchurch general surgeon Phil Bagshaw made the comments after a review, released yesterday, came to many of the same conclusions about dysfunction within the DHB’s gastroenterology department as a review he coauthored 18 months ago.

The report found various reasons for colonoscopy referrals being declined or delayed including, referrals not having the required information, poor relationships between staff having an impact on patients, and long waiting lists.

Mr Bagshaw said based on the DHB’s response to previous reviews, including his own, he had no confidence it would take responsibility now.