Several ‘at risk’ women untraced

Press, 29 September 1988, Page 49

Several ‘at risk’ women untraced

PA Wellington National Women’s Hospital has located 23 of 30 women considered at risk after inadequate cervical cancer treatment at the hospital. The medical superintendent, Dr Gabrielle Collison, said that the hospital had written to health authorities in Australia in a bid to find a further five women. The search for two more in New Zealand would continue. The seven untraced women were regarded as being at low risk, Dr Collison said. Although locating the women did not necessarily mean they had all been personally reached yet, she hoped this would soon be achieved. Demand for the toll-

free cervical cancer hotline had now settled to’ 10 to 15 calls a day, said a spokeswoman, Ms Sallyann Thompson. When the line was first opened in August up to 200 calls a day were received for two weeks. Recent calls were typically from women wanting to know whether the findings in the Cartwright report applied to them in any way. Some also wanted to know how they could obtain their hospital notes. Asked whether the problem of callers to the tollfree line being charged had been resolved, Ms Thompson said she did not know. But Telecom workers throughout New Zealand had been advised not to

charge users of the hotline. Anyone who found they had been charged should take it up with Telecom. The hotline would probably remain open until November, as it could be staffed while the archiving of all the material from the cervical cancer inquiry continued. Ms Thompson said there might be an increase in calls to the service if women decided to take legal action against National Women’s Hospital. It is believed that about 20 women intend to take such action and claims to the Accident Compensation Corporation may also increase. The toll-free hotline number is (09) 391-766.