Hospitals short of cancer therapists

ROTORUA - A world shortage of radiation specialists may be one reason why Waikato and Bay of Plenty cancer patients have a long wait for treatment, a hospital manager says.

Lakeland Health medical and diagnostic services director Liz Spellacy said Waikato Hospital, to where Rotorua and Tauranga patients were referred for radiation treatment, was just one hospital suffering from a national and international shortage of radiation oncologists.

Her explanation came after radiation oncologist Charles Kodikara wrote to Waikato and Bay of Plenty doctors apologising for the length of time patients were waiting for radiation therapy at Waikato Hospital.

Patients with non-curable cancer are waiting seven or eight weeks for treatment, and those with curable cancer four to five weeks. Waikato Hospital had a shortage of therapy radiographers and was using only two of its three machines, he said.

Dr Spellacy said as New Zealand relied on overseas medical staff, it was difficult to fill vacancies. Health Waikato spokeswoman Karen Bennett said the hospital would increase the hours treatment machines were available.

If patients were willing to travel, they would be referred to other North Island oncology services.

- NZPA