Green Party MP Sue Bradford today said the Government's adoption of key Green Party amendments into the Health and Disability Bill would help prevent medical misadventure such as the Graeme Parry and Gisborne Cervical Screening scandals.

Ms Bradford, who has been working with Northland women affected by Dr Parry's treatment and calling for a full and independent inquiry into his treatment, said she was especially pleased at the Green Party's proposal to develop a national quality assurance programme to ensure and monitor patient safety has been accepted by parliament.

The Green Party's proposal which has been accepted by the Government requires the Minister of Health to develop nationally consistent standards and quality assurance programmes across the health sector to ensure consumer safety, and to develop nationally consistent monitoring of health services and consumer safety.

"I believe it is the lack of appropriate monitoring and the absence of consistent national standards that has contributed to the appalling situations which have developed in Northland with Dr Parry, and in Gisborne with Dr Bottril," said Ms Bradford.

"Obviously this development is too late for the woman affected by the care of these two doctors and, while I will continue to push hard for compensation, legal aid and a full public inquiry for the women at the centre of the Parry case, I am optimistic that Green input into this bill will significantly reduce such future cases."

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