Some areas to lose their cancer clinic

By ROSALEEN MACBRAYNE

TAURANGA - A national and international shortage of radiation oncologists has been blamed for Health Waikato pulling cancer treatment services from smaller centres.

Monthly medical and radio-oncology clinics at Whakatane will soon be held instead at Tauranga Hospital, and Taupo cancer patients will have to travel to Rotorua.

Hamilton is the regional cancer care centre but follow-up treatment has been done in the patients' home areas, with Health Waikato providing oncologists for Pacific Health and Lakeland Health.

The decision to centralise mid-North Island region oncology clinics at Hamilton, Tauranga and Rotorua hospitals was made to minimise the time spent by specialists travelling, and allow more time with patients, Health Waikato spokeswoman Karen Bennett said yesterday.

It was expected to be a temporary measure. "We are actively working to recruit more staff," she said.

Health Waikato employed three radiation oncologists and was seeking two more. One was expected to be appointed within weeks.

Ms Bennett said some patients from Taupo and Whakatane would not need to travel to clinics but could be cared for by their local hospital specialists or general practitioners, with advice from the oncologists.

Pacific Health, which runs Tauranga and Whakatane hospitals, was working to ensure a high quality service was maintained, said spokesman Frank Begley.

Chemotherapy and haematology services would continue to be provided at Whakatane Hospital, but, from September, up to 50 Eastern Bay of Plenty oncology patients a month would have appointments scheduled at Tauranga.

More clinics were likely to be held to spread the load, he said.

Two oncology nurses from Whakatane would remain involved in their patients' care and would also attend the monthly Tauranga clinics.

Pacific Health's medical services manager, Nell Dawson, said transport and accommodation needs for patients travelling long distances would have to be reviewed, and support "beefed up."

Meanwhile, to reduce waiting times for radiation therapy, Waikato Hospital has ordered a new machine, which should be in service by the end of the year.

The two existing machines are operating an extra three hours a day to catch up on demand. Staff are being recruited to work the third.

Last month, cancer specialist Charles Kodikara wrote to Waikato and Bay of Plenty doctors apologising for delays in radiation therapy at Waikato Hospital, citing a shortage of therapy radiographers.