Hundreds more miss bowel tests

Ministry confirms invitations for 333 sent to old addresses and some re-dos ordered for expired kits

Hundreds of New Zealanders missed out on potentially life-saving bowel cancer screening because of another problem with invitations.

Documents obtained by the Herald reveal the oversight meant another 333 New Zealanders weren’t invited for free screening.

The Ministry of Health has also confirmed re-tests were done after some who were included 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 and detected cancer in 375 people, leading the previous Government to commit to national screening.

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

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

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 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 to the Herald 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 wasn’t outlined when he announced the review, 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 least 10 months after it was sent to them. Of that group, 151 did another test, and no cancers were found.

Bowel Cancer NZ spokeswoman Mary Bradley said questions needed to be asked about why the ministry hadn’t been upfront with the public.

“You have to wonder what else they have not told us. The review [must be thorough to ensure this doesn’t happen with] other DHBs.”

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.

Bradley said the country couldn’t afford any more delays in the rollout, and it was worrying the last five DHBs wouldn’t start screening until 2021.

Hutt Valley and Wairarapa health boards began screening in July last year and Waitemata moved from its pilot to the national programme in January. Southern DHB joins this month.

Screening will be offered every two years to men and women aged 60 to 74. Once fully implemented it is expected to detect 500-700 cancers a year.

I am aware of the issue, and it further vindicates my decision to hold an independent inquiry. David Clark, Health Minister (left)