Mr BELL - 1995-11-29
Last Monday, I wrote to the minister seeking an urgent response to information regarding irregularities with Pap smear tests in Katherine. Given this notice, can the minister advise whether, in 1992, several women from the Katherine district, whose Pap smear tests showed abnormal results, failed to receive further testing because a systems failure in the department meant patient records were unable to be accessed? If this is the case, what was the cause of the failure, was a departmental inquiry held into the failure and, if so, what were the outcomes of that inquiry, and what action has been taken to pursue these women and test them again?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I am not aware of the honourable member's inquiry.
Mr Ede: What?
Mr FINCH: I am not. Obviously, to that extent, I am unable to provide him with a detailed answer. However, I am intrigued by his launching automatically into what I interpret to be his allegation that blame lies with the department. I think that a little unfair and a little provocative.
My knowledge of Pap smear tests is that they can be quite sensitive and subject to misinterpretation. Previous history in Darwin, with one particular group which was checking
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Pap smears, indicated an extraordinarily high number of false positive results. That is quite unacceptable and quite alarming.
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr FINCH: That was not a departmental system. It was some other group. I do not intend to drag its name into this debate, because I think the situation requires us to stand back a little to ascertain what it is all about before we fire off at public servants - yet again, as is the wont of members opposite. I will answer the member's question when I am briefed on the matter.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I am not aware of the honourable member's inquiry.
Mr Ede: What?
Mr FINCH: I am not. Obviously, to that extent, I am unable to provide him with a detailed answer. However, I am intrigued by his launching automatically into what I interpret to be his allegation that blame lies with the department. I think that a little unfair and a little provocative.
My knowledge of Pap smear tests is that they can be quite sensitive and subject to misinterpretation. Previous history in Darwin, with one particular group which was checking
Page 1084
Pap smears, indicated an extraordinarily high number of false positive results. That is quite unacceptable and quite alarming.
Mr Ede interjecting.
Mr FINCH: That was not a departmental system. It was some other group. I do not intend to drag its name into this debate, because I think the situation requires us to stand back a little to ascertain what it is all about before we fire off at public servants - yet again, as is the wont of members opposite. I will answer the member's question when I am briefed on the matter.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016