Patients with symptoms wait months for colonoscopy appointments

People referred to the public health system gastro departments for colonoscopies or other exams are waiting months for an appointment even when they have symptoms that could be a sign of bowel cancer or other disease. Checkpoint has spoken to people experiencing worrying symptoms who are waiting for a colonoscopy or gastroscopy, while hearing nothing from Health New Zealand. Health NZ has told us it has staff recruitment drives, along with other ideas under way, to cope with an increase in gastro referrals. Jimmy Ellingham reports.