Photo: RNZ
Palmerston North Hospital will restart regular check-up colonoscopies after saying last month it would prioritise patients with symptoms.
Last month, Te Whatu Ora MidCentral said it was prioritising symptomatic people and those in the National Bowel Screening programme.
A letter to one patient at the time said MidCentral's endoscopy service was "pausing" surveillance colonoscopy, due to increasing demand with National Bowel Screening and urgent referrals.
The patient, who shared the letter on an online forum, was supposed to have annual colonoscopies due to polyps found previously, some of which showed precancerous growth.
Te Whatu Ora Group Director Operations MidCentral Sarah Fenwick told RNZ they will recommence a small number of surveillance colonoscopy lists from Saturday 1 February 2025, with three sessions scheduled for the first month.
"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."
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