Hon Tony Ryall MP
National Party Health spokesman

4 November 2007

National wants inquiry into collapse of child cancer services

National wants Parliament's Health Select Committee to investigate the collapse of child cancer services at Wellington Hospital.

Health spokesman Tony Ryall says he is writing to the Health Select Committee seeking an urgent briefing on what, if anything, is being done to rescue child oncology services for the Wellington region.

"It’s appalling that the capital city of New Zealand may soon be unable to offer cancer services for its children.

“A review of such services 10 years ago recommended three child oncology centres, and there's no reason to doubt the continued logic of that.

"For the past eight years there have been concerns raised about the viability of child cancer services in Wellington but it appears very little has been done.

"National is also concerned that the DHB and the Ministry are not moving heaven and earth to save this service.

"Outgoing Health Minister Hodgson has only wrung his hands and taken no action whatsoever.

“DHB chair Judith Aitken has been deafening in her silence on this.

"By having Parliament's Health Select Committee look into this, it may exert sufficient pressure to make the bureaucrats understand how deeply parents and the community feel about this service.”

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