Director's resignation a setback for cancer screening

4.00 pm

The doctor considered crucial to the success of New Zealand's breast and cervical screening programmes has resigned.

Dr Julia Peters stepped down as clinical director of the National Screening Unit for breast and cervical screening programmes on March 1. Her resignation is effective from late April.

Cancer Society spokeswoman Betsy Marshall said today the Gisborne Inquiry had specifically called for the preservation and encouragement of the 'culture which was developing in the Health Funding Authority under the management of Dr Julia Peters' when the HFA merged into the Ministry of Health just over a year ago.

"It can be seen as a loss for the women of New Zealand," Ms Marshall said.

The society understood Dr Peters resigned for personal and professional reasons.

During last year's ministerial inquiry into now-retired Gisborne pathologist Michael Bottrill's misreading of about 2000 abnormal cervical smears, Scottish cytopathologist Euphemia McGoogan, highlighted the importance of Dr Peters.

In her report she said: "As it stands, the full clinical responsibility [for both the cervical and breast screening programmes] is, in effect, invested in one person [Dr Peters]".

Dr Peters has also had an important role in the development of the breast screening programme, responsibility for which was assumed by the HFA in late 1998.

"Within a year of taking over responsibility for the programme, the highly committed staff of the HFA, including Dr Peters, ensured that all the requirements for an effective programme were in place before the programme was launched," Ms Marshall said.

Dr Peters would continue to provide expert advice part-time, National Radio reported this afternoon.

Ms Marshall said Dr Peters was highly skilled, dedicated and held in high regard.

"She has always kept the safety of women, and hence the need for high quality screening programmes, uppermost in her mind.

"Her departure represents a significant loss of both institutional and clinical knowledge," Ms Marshall said.

- NZPA