Urgent treatment for people with tests results that could indicate cancer will be provided as normal.  If you have any urgent health concerns you can contact your family doctor. GP surgeries will prioritise urgent health care during the COVID-19 response.

We understand some people might be worried about the temporary suspension of screening services but we need our hospitals, GP clinics and laboratories to focus on New Zealanders with immediate health needs. We also need to the reduce the risk of people leaving their homes and going to places they could catch the virus.

Other countries have made the same decision. It is a standard response for hospitals in an emergency situation to give priority to essential services.

More information about how this affects participation in each of our programmes is provided below and will be updated as regularly as possible. You can find out more Covid 19.

National Bowel Screening Programme – COVID-19

New invitations to take part in bowel screening have been paused and all routine appointments cancelled for the moment. This is to keep everyone safe.　

You may still receive a test kit in the mail. Please put it aside and complete it once the New Zealand COVID-19 alert level has reduced to two or below. The kit is valid for up to six months from the time you received it.　

Screening tests are still being processed.

If you’ve done the test and received a letter saying your test was positive AND you are experiencing possible symptoms. It is important to seek advice from your family doctor. Symptoms can include a change in your normal bowel habit that continues for several weeks or blood in your bowel motion (poo). If the doctor thinks you might have bowel cancer you will be referred for urgent assessment and treatment.　

If you got a letter saying your test was positive but you have no symptoms. Your test result does not necessarily mean you have bowel cancer. A small amount of blood in your bowel motion can be caused by polyps (growths), or other minor conditions such as haemorrhoids (piles), which can easily be treated.

We understand you may be worried but remember 92 out of every 100 people, who have a positive test, will not have bowel cancer. Once services resume we will organise further investigations, usually a colonoscopy.　

A colonoscopy is recommended within three months of having a positive result and that will always be our aim but, in exceptional circumstances, where a person is not experiencing symptoms, it may be extended for a few months as bowel cancer is usually slow growing. Your doctor or a nurse will contact you when your local District Health Board is again able to offer you a colonoscopy.　Thank you for your patience during this challenging time.

BreastScreen Aotearoa – COVID-19　

New invitations to take part in breast screening have been paused and all routine appointments cancelled for the moment. This is to keep everyone safe.　 We will be working closely with health providers to plan how we will re-start screening appointments once the situation changes.　

Results from screening tests are still being processed. If you’ve had a mammogram, you should get the result in the mail as normal. If you don’t, please contact your screening provider.　

If your test result comes back needing urgent attention. Rest assured, you will be referred for care. If you have already received an appointment notice, your health provider will be working to prioritise your care plan, so that any urgent care can continue.　

If you have already received an outpatient appointment. Your health provider will be working to prioritise your care plan so that any urgent care can continue.　

If you are worried about symptoms, such as changes to your breasts, talk to your family doctor. GP surgeries will prioritise appointments for urgent health needs during the COVID-19 response.

Thank you for your patience during this challenging time.

National Cervical Screening Programme – COVID-19　

New invitations to take part in three-yearly cervical screening have been paused and all routine appointments cancelled for the moment. This is to keep everyone safe.　

Results from screening tests are still being processed. If you have had a screening test, you should get the result in the mail, as normal. If you don’t, please contact your screening provider.　

If your test result comes back needing urgent attention. Rest assured, you will be referred for treatment. If you have already received an appointment notice, your health provider will be working to prioritise your treatment.　

If you are worried about symptoms that could indicate cervical cancer. Talk to your family doctor. GP surgeries will prioritise appointments for urgent health needs during the COVID-19 response.　

If you were going to make your routine screening appointment, just hold off for now. However, if you are having more frequent screening, following treatment or a previous abnormal result, you may be invited for follow up testing during this time. We encourage you to talk to your health provider to discuss whether you need to go in for an appointment right now 　

We will be working closely with health providers to plan how we will re-prioritise screening appointments once the situation changes. We appreciate your patience during this time.