5003 (2026). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

5003 (2026). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: What is the current availability of breast screening appointments in Northland provided by BreastScreen Waitematā Northland, as of 16 February 2026 including the next available appointment date in Kerikeri, the average waiting time over the past six months, the number of women currently waiting for appointments, and the number of cancelled or deferred appointments over that period, if any?

Hon Simeon Brown: I refer the Member to Written Parliamentary Question 5001 (2026).   I am advised that as at 16 February 2026, there were 68 available appointments across fixed sites in the Northland region until the end of February 2026. Kerikeri is serviced by a mobile unit which is scheduled to visit from 4 to 29 May 2026, and the next available appointment date is 4 May. The mobile unit goes to Kerikeri three times per year. The last visits were 5 January 2026 - 23 January 2026, 25 August 2025 - 19 September 2025, and 12 May 2025 - 6 June 2025. I am further advised that in the past six months there have been 499 cancelled appointments across the Northland region. I am advised most of these cancelled appointments were participant cancellations.