A bowel cancer group is questioning a delay to the national screening programme, saying the reason has not been adequately explained. Bowel Cancer New Zealand executive member Associate Prof Sarah Derrett said she did not understand the delay, nor why Health Minister David Clark was unable to say when every health board would start screening. Dr Clark said last week he was slowing implementation by a year to ensure the programme was safely delivered. ''I think we need a much more comprehensive response from the minister to understand what is happening with the roll-out of the bowel cancer screening programme,'' Prof Derrett said. Prof Derrett would try to set up a meeting with Dr Clark in the new year to clarify the matter.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 26, 2017 21:22 UTC