Stewart Barbara: Health (Screening Programmes) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
Stewart Barbara: Health (Screening Programmes) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:613;Page:9910] 
BARBARA STEWART (NZ First) 
: 
 On behalf of New Zealand First I rise to speak on the Health (National Cervical Screening Programmes) Amendment Bill. This bill is of particular interest to New Zealand First as we like many other New Zealanders have experience of it and know of people and their families who are suffering from and have suffered from this tragic cancer. The cervical-screening programme is a really great programme that has saved many lives. Cervical cancer is one of the more common cancers suffered by women. All the research indicates that early detection is paramount and this programme does that. 
New Zealand First believes that the operation of the National Cervical-screening Programme is absolutely essential for the health monitoring of all New Zealand women and we recognise that we need a very highly effective screening programme. This legislation with its monitoring and auditing of practices and results should assist in the elimination of the under-reporting of cervical cancer and the misdiagnoses that have come to light. The bottom line is that we cannot afford to have misdiagnoses and under-reporting slipping through cracks in the system in the way that they have in the past. The quality control mechanisms need to be put in place and this bill does that at all levels within the programme which we are very happy about. We all know that the early detection of problems is the best way to treat conditions before cancer develops. A register to enhance screening programmes will be beneficial to New Zealand women. 
Katherine Rich 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Mr Benson-Pope has been throwing a wide range of insults across the House. He called me despicable for the speech I have just delivered. As somebody who has actually suffered from cervical cancer I take great offence at that. I would like him to stand withdraw and apologise because my speech was delivered from the heart on a very sensitive issue. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I thank the honourable member. The point is that members make disparaging remarks about each other all the time. It is a personal reflection that is out of order. 
Dr Wayne Mapp 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Offence was taken and it was in the nature of a personal reflection. I believe that my colleague’s statement indicated very clearly why it was so deeply felt and I invite you to reflect on what you just said. 
David Benson-Pope 
: I am happy if offence was taken to withdraw and apologise. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Thank you. 
BARBARA STEWART 
: New Zealand First does have some concerns about the informed consent process and the privacy of information as it was outlined in today’s  
New Zealand Herald  
article. The last thing we want to see is the bill compromising women’s privacy. We do not want to have a situation where women are opting off the programme because of fears about privacy issues and their primary health-care records. Unfortunately I have already been approached by women who will be opting off this very programme because of the lack of a consent process and I wonder how many other women will also follow that course of action. The bottom line is that the programme needs the support of New Zealand women if it is to succeed. I have also had inquiries over the last couple of days about the people who are already on the programme. The basis on which many people joined the programme was that access to their records held in other parts of the health system was not automatically granted. This raises the question as to whether the terms of the original contract that these women entered are still valid or whether this bill starts a whole new regime. 
Everyone deserves access to the best health-care and access to this programme will occur only if people are satisfied with the programme. It is important for the well-being and the health of women that this bill proceeds—in reality every New Zealander is affected. Providing people with certainty about their health care and ensuring timely access to quality services is absolutely essential. We want the women of New Zealand to have the best possible screening programme. At this stage New Zealand First supports this bill. However we do have some reservations about the bill’s potential to undermine the privacy of personal health information.