Tuesday, 7 June 2005

Turner: Capital cancer treatment delays inexcusable, unnecessary

United Future deputy leader Judy Turner today slammed news that Wellington cancer patients' waiting time for radiation treatment may double while the capital's cancer services are relocated.

"This is just rubbish. This was no surprise element here," Mrs Turner, United Future's health spokeswoman, said.

"It is a planned change; they knew it was coming and yet cancer patients will have to suffer longer waiting times and one would presume, they get sicker and, who knows, some may die while waiting or further down the road because of the delay in being treated.

"There is simply no excuse for this. They need to get these things right and provide adequate back-up services while making planned changes. It is just not good enough to say a piece of equipment hasn't turned up on time.

"If that's the case, stay where you are until it does turn up and keep the service running until some planning competence is displayed and provisions are made to maintain the level of treatment throughout the move.

"Everything here was foreseeable. There is no excuse for putting cancer sufferers and their families through the extra stress that will come from this," Mrs Turner said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media