Media Release

19 July 2007

Consultation on health support service for people exposed to dioxin

A range of options for additional health support services for individuals exposed to dioxins because of where they live or the work they have done has been released for public consultation.

The discussion document sets out options for possible health support services for people who lived in Paritutu, New Plymouth between 1962 and 1987 who may have been exposed to dioxin from the Ivon Watkins-Dow (IWD) plant.

This group is being asked for their views on the health support needs they have and what services they believe should be provided to their community.

The document follows the Ministry of Health’s contracting earlier this year of Allen and Clarke Policy and Regulatory Specialists Ltd, a Wellington-based consultancy, to design and consult on options for a health support programme for groups exposed to dioxin.

The discussion document focuses on people who lived in Paritutu between 1962 and 1987.

However, the views of other groups who may have been exposed to higher levels of dioxin than other New Zealanders are also being sought as it is possible that a health support service could also cover other groups. This might include people who may have been exposed to dioxin as a result of their occupation.

Possible health support service options set out in the document include:

• Regular health check-ups provided by GPs
• Access to health promotion initiatives, such as programmes to reduce cancer risk
• Counselling services
• Tests that screen for dioxin exposure and DNA damage
• Access to tests that screen for conditions associated with dioxin exposure
• Genetic counselling services

The document also identifies possible ways of identifying those who would be eligible to access the services, and possible approaches for ensuring useful information and advice is provided to health practitioners on dioxin exposure and its health effects. It also discusses whether services should be made available to the children and grandchildren of exposed people.

People are able to provide their views on what health support services they would like available. Submissions must be received by Wednesday 8 August.

Meetings will be held in July with a range of interested parties, including residents, community groups, health providers, and health and disability groups, to discuss the options and to seek feedback. Separate meetings are being organised with other affected groups (e.g. timber treatment workers exposed to dioxin and Vietnam veterans).

Allen & Clarke has been in recent contact with those people who have registered an interest with the Ministry of Health in being kept informed on dioxin issues. However, any residents or former residents of Paritutu who have not been contacted and who wish to attend a meeting planned in New Plymouth on 25 July should contact Allen & Clarke as soon as possible.

No decisions have yet been made by the Ministry of Health over what service(s) will be funded by the government.

Following consultation, Allen & Clarke will undertake further analysis of health support options, including reviewing the practicality, cost and workforce issues associated with delivering services. A final report is due in October 2007. The results of this will be reported to the Ministry who will make the final decision. The results will also be reported to the community.

For the discussion document and a submission form see www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/dioxins-healthsupportprogramme

For a substantive report on the first phase of the health support service project see www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/dioxins-healthsupportprogramme

Please attribute the above information to Group Manager, Communicable Disease and Environmental Health, Graeme Gillespie.

For more information on health issues contact Peter Abernethy, Ministry of Health, 04 496 2008 / 021 366 111

For more information on the project contact Matthew Allen, Allen & Clarke, 04 890 7303 / 027 599 0003

Background information

1. The Ministry of Health has concluded that the dioxin levels found amongst a group of Paritutu residents may have health consequences for individuals and may cause increased rates of disease, in particular cancer, on a population basis. This means that there could be a small additional increase in cancers as a result of exposure to a small group, but because of the nature of cancer and the exposure it would be impossible to determine which individual cases of cancer were actually caused by the exposure. The extent of the increased cancer risk is difficult to precisely determine, but is estimated that it may be up to 10% above the national cancer mortality rate for Paritutu residents who lived for at least 15 years within 400 metres south and 1,000 metres east of the plant between 1962 and 1987;
   
2. The health support service project involves developing and consulting on options for a health support service for residents and former residents who may have been significantly exposed to dioxin from the Ivon Watkins-Dow plant in New Plymouth between 1962 and 1987, and on the provision of health information and advice to medical practitioners and other health professionals supporting exposed persons;
   
3. The Ministry of Health decided to out-source the project to an external provider. The project was put out to tender in September 2006 and Allen and Clarke Policy and Regulatory Specialists Ltd were appointed in March 2007. The project is expected to be completed in October 2007;
   
4. Allen & Clarke’s terms of reference are to research, scope and consult on options for such a programme, including to:
   • review existing research
   • define the criteria for accessing the proposed services
   • develop and analyse options for an early intervention programme
   • develop guidelines, recommendations and specifications for a programme
   • develop a programme for ongoing health information and advice for health professionals
   • consult with the community, Government agencies, and other stakeholders on the proposed programme
   • identify resource and implementation implications
   • develop a monitoring and evaluation framework
   • complete a final report and implementation plan
   • report findings to the Ministry of Health and the community
     
5. In addition to considering eligibility criteria for the inclusion of people likely to have been exposed to dioxin while living in Paritutu between 1962 and 1987 in the health support service, the project is also considering whether eligibility for access to such services should be extended to include other exposed groups (for example, occupationally-exposed people and Vietnam veterans);
   
6. In 2006 the Government agreed a package of measures to address the health and wellbeing needs of Vietnam veterans and, where appropriate, their immediate families. The package includes: ongoing research into intergenerational effects of dioxins; a Veterans Card issued to veterans and their children and grandchildren to allow easy identification by medical practitioners; a national register of veterans, their children and grandchildren; provision of information to assist treatment and diagnosis and centres of excellence on veteran's conditions; and a one-off comprehensive medical examination for veteran’s by a registered practitioner and/or a specialist;
   
7. For the terms of reference and questions and answers on the health support service project see www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/dioxins-healthsupportprogramme; and
   
8. For more information on Allen & Clarke see www.allenandclarke.co.nz or contact Matthew Allen, Allen & Clarke, 04 890 7303 / 027 599 0003.