30 develop cancer after admin bungle

More than 30 people developed bowel cancer after missing check-ups because of a botch-up in a free bowel screening pilot programme, the Ministry of Health has revealed.

The ministry announced yesterday that ‘‘many more people than first thought’’ didn’t receive invitations for free bowel screening during the pilot programme.

The news comes two months after Health Minister David Clark ordered a review of the National Bowel Screening Programme, after it was revealed that 2500 Waitemata¯ residents missed out on an invitation.

That number now sits at 15,000, with 30 developing cancer, and one death due to cancer.

‘‘Initial analysis has shown that more than 30 of these people have developed bowel cancer,’’ National Screening Unit clinical director, Dr Jane O’Hallahan said.

One person who missed out on screening went on to die from bowel cancer.

The free screening pilot programme started in the Waitemata¯ District Health Board - covering North Shore and Waitakere hospitals - in north Auckland in 2011.

The pilot invited almost 200,000 Waitemata¯ residents and successfully screened 117,000.

Of those successfully contacted for screening, 350 were found to have cancer.

O’Hallahan said the Ministry takes full responsibility for the oversights, which were a result of IT issues and human error.

The screening programme was the first in the country that had attempted to enrol all eligible people in the population - which was an ‘‘ambitious task’’, O’Hallahan said.

Each year 1200 New Zealanders die from bowel cancer and 3000 people are diagnosed with the disease.

‘‘Tracing people who didn’t have upto-date addresses in the National Health Index has been a challenge and, at the time of the pilot, our systems for updating records in the bowel screening register from the NHI could have been better.

‘‘We have clearly failed some people and for that we are sorry.’’

The free screening programme was being rolled out in stages to DHBs around the country.

Hutt Valley and Wairarapa DHBs started screening in July last year. All DHBs are to have the programme in place by mid-2021, with full implementation by mid-2023.

The problems were only related to the pilot phase of the programme and residents in Waitemata¯ DHB area, O’Hallahan said.

The ministry welcomed the review and had ‘‘refined and improved our processes’’ for the National Bowel Screening Programme currently being rolled out around the country, she said.

‘‘Naturally, we support the need to affirm public confidence in the national programme and the issues that have come to light with the pilot will be part of that review.’’ O’Hallahan said the Ministry welcomed the review and was confident its recommendations would lead to ‘‘ongoing improvements’’.

In the meantime, O’Hallahan encouraged potential bowel screening participants to ensure their details are up-to-date with their GP or health care provider to ensure they get their invitation.

If you have questions about your eligibility, see timetoscreen.nz online or call the Bowel Screening National Co0ordination Centre on 0800 924432.