Te Whatu Ora is recommencing a small number of surveillance colonoscopies at Palmerston North Hospital from next month, after pausing the check-ups because the system is at capacity.
Forty-five patients who have been waiting the longest for the procedure will receive them over three Saturday sessions from February 1.
“These sessions will continue to increase as our recruitment, and other activity to increase our capacity, progresses. This includes working with other districts in our region to access any surplus capacity in their systems and maximising the available outsourcing options,” Te Whatu Ora group director operations MidCentral Sarah Fenwick said.
In December, 852 MidCentral patients received a letter saying their regular colonoscopies would be on hold.
The preventative checks have been instrumental in helping to improve the outcomes of those with a risk of bowel cancer – the second deadliest cancer in New Zealand.
Patient advocate Malcolm Mullholland, who is one of the affected patients, has organised a public meeting for February 11 to come up with a plan for those whose regular checks have been delayed.
