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The interim chief executive of Health NZ says breast screening is nearly on target despite Covid-related staff shortages.
A review is going on into screening services at Capital & Coast and Hutt Valley DHBs, where between 2017 and 2021 more than 6000 people in the wider region waited more than 60 working days to be offered a breast screening appointment between, leading to delayed diagnosis of many cases.
Fepulea’i Margie Apa says there seems to be conditions unique to those DHBs.
“There were a number, and the DHBs themselves have investigated, of women we believe may have been harmed because they either had a diagnosis that was a bit later because of the mammogram delays and that’s a specific issue to Wellington. Most of our other providers in the networks are closely meeting target but it is a challenge because of the workforce shortage we have,” she says.
Wellington has caught up with screening.
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