Role of the group

The Consumer Reference Group was established in 2003 to support the National Screening Unit to achieve its vision, namely:

Saving lives, reducing inequalities, and building the Nation’s health by leading the delivery of screening programmes, uncompromising in their quality and trusted by the communities we serve.

The group provides the NSU with advice on breast and cervical screening programmes, with the following specific purposes:

• to provide a voice for consumers in the development, implementation and maintenance of the breast and cervical screening programmes
• to provide a voice for priority and under-screened groups of the programmes
• to provide an avenue for women’s experiences of and concerns about screening to be known to the Ministry of Health
• to contribute to the development of government policy for breast and cervical screening programmes
• to make recommendations to the Ministry of Health
• to receive reports back from the Ministry of Health on action taken regarding recommendations
• to inform women about developments and progress in the programmes
• to provide support and advice for women acting as consumer representatives in advisory and other groups associated with screening programmes
• to work co-operatively with the other NSU advisory groups and the National Screening Advisory Committee
• to advise the NSU on consumer issues during the development of its strategic and annual business plans.

The group reports directly to the NSU.

To find out more about the Consumer Reference Group read the group’s Terms of Reference.

Membership

Nominations for group membership were sought from consumer health groups, women’s organisations, Māori and Pacific groups.   The Consumer Reference Group members are:  Barbara Beckford, Kristen Berger, Sherrill Dackers, Fala Haulangi, Natasha Keating, Wendi Wicks, Linda Grennell and Jean Mitaera.