Power Simon: Health (National Cervical Screening Programme) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Power Simon: Health (National Cervical Screening Programme) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:615;Page:11272] 
SIMON POWER (National—Rangitikei) 
: 
 It may seem a little odd that I am taking a call in the Committee stage of this particular legislation as health is not a matter—nor is the Health Committee a select committee—that I have been heavily involved in. But I do want to make some remarks regarding Supplementary Order Paper 184 and in particular the way that this bill was brought to my attention by women’s health groups in my electorate that have very strong views on particular aspects of the bill. As a lawyer I approach most things from the point of view that no one should undertake any activity without informed consent and I take this opportunity before we get into the detail of some of the Supplementary Order Paper to pay a very high compliment to my colleague Dr Scott who has talked and walked me through this bill. She has brought me to the conclusion in our discussions about the Supplementary Order Paper and from the discussions she had with the Minister that in fact—initially anyway—this programme is as good an option as possible to make available to the women of New Zealand. I do quite genuinely worry about the issue of access to primary health-care records. As I say it is the hard work that has gone into the Supplementary Order Paper that has brought me to the conclusion that it should be supported. 
The inclusion of the new section 112OA “Establishment of NCSP review committee” is a very good measure indeed because if nothing else it allows that review committee to be formed by the Minister. I like the fact that that has to be done at least once every 3 years and I like the fact that it reviews not only the operation of the National Cervical-screening Programme but more particularly the evaluation activities. That is a very important point. As I said before I do not pretend to be an expert on this matter but I know good systems and bad law when I see them and I believe that the inclusion of section 112OA will indeed be useful. 
The transitional provisions contained in new clause 6 particularly clause 6(2) relating to the National Cervical-screening Programme manager having to take reasonable steps to ensure information about the programme and the effect of the Act is made available to women are a substantial step towards informed consent. But they are not the final step in terms of informed consent by any stretch of the imagination. I would have preferred to see that clause set out a requirement that a registered letter was to be sent to the women concerned advising them about the effect of the Act and the programme. Members on the Opposition side of the Chamber are taking the Minister at her word that that is how clause 6(2) will be played out. I have assurances on that from the Minister—I see her nodding there—and I have assurances from my colleague Dr Lynda Scott who I know has worked extremely hard on the production of the Supplementary Order Paper. 
I know that my colleague Dr Scott is disappointed that her further amendment will not be included. From listening to the Minister’s explanation on that issue I can say that this bill and Supplementary Order Paper have really exercised my mind in a way that frankly other legislation has not. Other legislation has not needed the careful attention that I have found myself giving to this legislation largely because of the very strong representations that were made to me in my electorate. As I say I am not an expert on this issue by any stretch of the imagination. 
I conclude by saying that National will be supporting the passage of this particular Supplementary Order Paper and bill. I will watch very carefully to see how the review and evaluation process unfolds and more particularly how the issues of informed consent are dealt with through that process. Once again I congratulate my colleague Dr Lynda Scott on working so hard to try to address as many as possible of the issues that worried me in the short term.