Breast screening machine delayed

Press, 27 April 1989, Page 7

Breast screening machine delayed

By

SARAH SANDS

A move to replace an obsolete breast cancer screening machine at Christchurch Women’s Hospital was delayed again yesterday when the Canterbury Hospital Board referred the matter to its finance committee.

The board was told in December last year that the existing mammography machine was obsolete as it could not detect fine calcifications in the breast. Since then the board has been considering funding sources for a new machine, which would cost about $140,000. A board member, Mrs Caroline Cartwright, said last month that the existing machine should be replaced urgently as it might give false negative results with women need-

ing treatment being told there was no problem. Mrs Cartwright moved yesterday that trust funds be used to buy a new mammography machine so that women would receive the appropriate treatment. A report from the board’s director of finance showed that trust funds were available and could_.be used, she said. However, another board member, Professor Don Beaven, queried whether the board would be right

to buy a new machine at a time when technology was moving rapidly. “Have we considered leasing the most up-to-date machine now with a view to upgrading in three years time? It may well be that we would purchase this machine just as there was an increase in technology.” The chairman of the finance committee, Mr David Lawrence, said the matter should be referred to the finance committee for a full report on the cost of a new machine

and approval for trust funds to be used. Mrs Cartwright expressed concern that this would delay progress in replacing the machine. “At the present time women are being examined at Christchurch Women’s Hospital by a machine we know is not appropriate. Staff time is then used for a repeat examination in the private sector, which is wasting resources.” The board voted to refer the matter to the finance committee.