[Other Reports]

Report of the Ministerial Inquiry into the Under-reporting of Cervical Smear Abnormalities in the Gisborne Region

Acknowlegements

 The Committee of Inquiry wishes to acknowledge the many persons who participated in the inquiry in various roles including : the witnesses who gave evidence; those persons who provided the Committee with written submissions and other material; counsel assisting; counsel representing the parties and persons entitled to be heard; the secretarial assistance and those who helped in the transcription of evidence.

 To ensure that all relevant evidence was heard in the 10 weeks which were available for that purpose the hearing times were extended. They often lasted into the evening and occasionally they extended to weekends. This placed a greater burden on counsel assisting, other counsel, other persons who appeared before the Committee, witnesses and the Committee’s secretarial assistants, all of whom were obliged, at times, to be present in the evenings, on Saturdays, and on one occasion on Sunday. In addition, the women affected agreed to reduce their number who would be giving evidence to enable the Committee to hear evidence from other witnesses whose evidence was relevant to terms of reference 3 to 8. Had it not been for the co-operation of counsel, parties and other persons who appeared at the inquiry, and particularly the women affected, the Committee would not have been able to complete the hearing of evidence within the 10 week period. The Committee wishes to record its appreciation of the efforts that so many people went to in order to ensure that the hearings were completed within time.

 The Committee also wishes to acknowledge the significant work and effort that so many individuals over the years have put into the National Cervical Screening Programme. Without so much individual effort the Programme may never have started. The concerns about the Programme, which the Committee has identified in its report, are no reflection on their hard work. Much has been achieved in terms of the numbers of women now participating in the Programme. It is unfortunate that the Programme has been found to be wanting in some respects. Because the terms of reference have caused the Committee to look at these particular aspects of the Programme the other areas, where it may have been more successful, have not been addressed. This may create the impression for some that the examination of the Programme has been unbalanced and disregards the very worthwhile efforts of so many, who have worked to make the Programme successful. It is, however, a feature of committees of inquiry that they are appointed usually to examine issues of concern and not to report on successful outcomes. This report is not an examination of the entire Programme. Its focus is narrow; the Committee has looked at the Programme purely from the perspective of the terms of reference. This needs to be appreciated.