Simon Bridges National MP simonbridges.co.nz

America

At the present time I'm in the United States of America learning about the US foreign policy process. The programme I am attending is put on by the US Government and it was a great honour to be selected. I'm learning a lot about America's foreign policy, its approach to terrorism and its worldview generally.

It's a fascinating and significant time to be here given the recent death of Osama bin Laden and the controversies that have surrounded 'Wikileaks”, the release of many thousands of US diplomatic cables to the world. When I am back in Tauranga a little later this month I am sure to have more to say about the trip and the lessons I've learned.

Shorter waits for cancer treatment

Cancer is one of our biggest killers. Each year, more than 19,000 New Zealanders are diagnosed with it and for every patient newly diagnosed and their family, it is a frightening and stressful experience.

That's why National is committed to improving care for cancer patients.

Only a few years ago, many patients waited 12 or 15 weeks to begin their cancer radiation treatment. Now, under National, all patients ready for radiation treatment should start it within four weeks of seeing their specialist. This is a major achievement, backed up by a huge investment in new cancer radiation technology in our hospitals.

This means less stress for patients and their families and gives them peace of mind when they need it the most.

Delivering shorter waiting times, however, is not the only way we are improving cancer treatment.

The six cancer treatment centres around the country are working to improve services for their patients.

At the Southern District Health Board, the number of new patients starting radiotherapy has doubled due to their streamlined booking system and treatment plans.

At the Capital and Coast DHB, men battling prostate cancer are receiving advanced treatment with fewer side effects thanks to their new equipment.

And ‘Project 28 days' in Auckland cut radiotherapy waiting times to just four weeks in November last year, nearly two months before the new four-week target started.

National has approved nine new linear accelerators in the last two years. These machines deliver a uniform dose of X-ray to a tumour. The X-rays can destroy the cancer cells, while sparing surrounding tissue.

We've widened access to medicines that treat cancer and funded two new drugs to treat bowel cancer.

And we've put more funding into PET scans for an extra 550 patients a year. PET scans are used to detect and evaluate some cancers and can provide information about whether the cancer has spread and whether surgery will benefit the patient.

As well as our success in reducing waiting times and improving treatment, we're also funding a pilot screening programme for bowel cancer.

Bowel cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second highest cause of cancer death in New Zealand.

The National-led Government is putting $24 million into this programme, which will be piloted by the Waitemata District Health Board.

National will continue to work on improving treatment times and therapies for cancer patients. It's an important part of our work to provide a better, sooner, more convenient public health service.

We want to give patients and their families peace of mind that they will receive the care they need – when they need it.