Friday, 30 October 2009

Resignation of Dr Madeleine Wall, Clinical Leader, BreastScreen Aotearoa

Dr Madeleine Wall has resigned from her position as Clinical Leader for BreastScreen Aotearoa.

Dr Wall has been involved with BreastScreen Aotearoa since the inception of the programme in 1999, having served on the Breast Cancer Screening Policy Advisory Group which gave advice to the Minister of Health on the establishment of the programme. She helped draft the initial quality standards (radiology sections) and helped set up the Wellington regional breast screening programme where she was Clinical Director from 1999, until starting with the Ministry in 2002.

In 2002, Dr Wall was appointed as Clinical Leader for BreastScreen Aotearoa. In the seven years since, Dr Wall has overseen many significant clinical, technological and logistical challenges for the programme.

In early 2004, then Minister of Health, Annette King, announced the extension of the age range for the programme, from 50-64 to 45-69.  Age extension nearly doubled the number of women eligible for free breast screening in New Zealand.  This presented significant challenges for the sector and the programme. It was essential for the programme to respond to the increased numbers of eligible women, whilst ensuring the delivery of a safe, effective and clinically sound screening programme.

Dr Wall's leadership, expertise and tireless dedication for breast screening in New Zealand and more specifically for BreastScreen Aotearoa ensured the women of New Zealand continued to have a world class screening programme.

By international standards, BreastScreen Aotearoa has excellent clinical results, with high cancer detection rates and good pick-up of small, lymph node negative cancers, which, apart from the numbers of eligible women screened, are the most important elements to ensuring breast cancer deaths are reduced.

Madeleine is going to take time out to look after her mokopuna and will continue with her clinical work with Hutt Valley DHB.