The Government says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Auckland shows its commitment to better cancer services.
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti launched the mobile clinic today in Counties Manukau alongside Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
The unit will visit locations people frequent, such as shopping centres and has a mammography machine and IT equipment to transmit images.
It's the second breast screening mobile clinic in Counties Manukau, after another was introduced in 2006.
That unit would remain in operation while the new service extension at Manukau Health Park is being completed, to help provide additional capacity.
Reti said the new mobile clinic's launch was a great example of delivering health services directly to the community, and it was expected to reach up to 6000 patients a year.
He said it would make it easier for people to have their breasts screened, and there was a focus on reaching under-screened people, including those who had never been screened.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in New Zealand women, with 3400 women diagnosed with the disease each year.
“In Counties Manukau, this service will partner with community groups and local marae to help raise awareness and support.
“Mobile breast screening clinics continue to be a really important part of reaching our communities, particularly for those who don’t have access to transport or who live in rural or remote areas.
“Mobile units like this one will also play an important role in the rollout of the new age extension [for breast screening] we announced recently, and Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora will be looking at requirements for more mobile clinics."
Reti said the launch of the mobile clinic sat alongside other initiatives such as introducing a faster cancer treatment health target - 90% of patients to receive cancer management within 31 days of the decision to treat, and increasing breast screening eligibility for 70 to 74 year olds.
The Government was also funding two new cancer drugs for breast cancer and acute myeloid leukaemia, funding South Island PET scanning accessibility which will especially benefit people with prostate cancer, he said.
There was also a new cancer radiotherapy machine at Whangārei Hospital "so 520 Northlanders a year will no longer have to travel to Auckland for treatment", and an expansion of cancer infusion services in Whanganui for up to 10 patients a day.
“We know cancer touches thousands of New Zealand families each year, and that’s why addressing wait times for cancer treatment was something the Government prioritised as one of its five key health targets."
Reti said in his role he would "drive a vigorous new direction on behalf of a Government determined to deliver for all New Zealanders".
Labour's Health spokesperson Dr Ayesha Verrall took to X (formerly Twitter) to respond to the announcement of the new mobile unit, saying: "Great! Want to know if they’ve got the staff and when eligible women will be screened. Otherwise just posturing by this government that’s caused more cancers than any other through Smokefree repeal".
The Government repealed law changes made by the previous Labour Government last week, including a sinking lid on the purchasing age of tobacco and a reduction of nicotine allowed in products.
Neither of the policies under Labour's Smokefree laws had been implemented yet before they were repealed.
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