Investigation needed if Ryall can’t give reassurance

Tony Ryall needs to step up and reassure both current and future cancer patients their treatment won’t be compromised through sloppy testing procedures, says Labour’s Health spokesperson Annette King.

“Today’s report revealing historic problems with cancer testing at Wellington Hospital will have placed undue stress and anguish on many, many people.

“They need assurance from both the district health board and from the Minister that any tests they have had, or are to undergo, have been or will be performed to the highest standard.

“If Mr Ryall isn’t forthcoming, then let’s get an independent investigation underway as soon as possible to get to the bottom of what’s really going on.

“I was the Health Minister who had to front the failures around cervical screening in Gisborne in the 1990s.

“I know how devastating it was for those patients to learn that testing botch-ups had led to invasive cancer and even death.

“That can’t happen again. Mr Ryall needs to act without delay.”

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