Shortages see breast cancer patients sent to Australia

Hundreds of breast cancer patients were treated in Australia between 2001 and 2004.

Auckland City Hospital is to send 30 breast cancer patients to Australia for treatment because of staff shortages and recent industrial action.

It is the first time cancer patients have been sent abroad for radiation therapy since hundreds were treated in Australia between 2001 and 2004.

The women will travel to Australia within the next few weeks.

The Auckland District Health Board said last night the decision was due to a 10 per cent increase in demand for treatment and a shortage of radiation therapists due to resignations and maternity leave.

The shortages had been compounded by rolling industrial action, it said.

Medical director Margaret Wilsher said other centres in New Zealand were unable to provide treatment for the patients.

"We believe that there is a risk that continual delays will lower the success rate of their surgery and that is why we are offering them the opportunity to have treatment in Australia, but it is for the patient to decide if they wish to accept this opportunity."

Some of the patients could wait between 10 and 12 weeks for post-surgery treatment, against national recommended guidelines of six to eight weeks.

The board will pay at least $500 for each patient, and a support person if desired, to go to Australia for the treatment.

National Party spokesman Tony Ryall said the hospital's cancer services had been badly hit by recent industrial action and growing staff shortages.

"Labour promised five years ago that they would stop this from happening again. This crisis didn't occur overnight - it has been brewing for months and the Government has done nothing."

Mr Ryall said National supported cancer patients getting urgent treatment, but sending them to Australia was far from ideal. "It's a band-aid solution.

"It's only a matter of time before this happens again ... The Government needs to deal with the industrial action and the workforce crisis facing so many of our country's hospitals."

Health Minister Pete Hodgson was travelling overseas last night and unavailable for comment.