Delays to cervical self-screening tests lead to more cancer

Doctors are pleading with the Ministry of Health not to further delay a cervical cancer self-screening test they say will save lives. The test for the virus which causes the cancer, is much less invasive than the current smear test and women can do it themselves. It was first due to be rolled out in 2018, then delayed til 2021 and now looks likely to be put off again. Victoria University professor Bev Lawton is one of a number of doctors who have written to the director general of health Ashley Bloomfield asking him to take urgent action. She told our health correspondent Rowan Quinn the current test is now substandard.