Waikato cancer treatment delays hit 18 weeks

Cancer patients are waiting up to 18 weeks for first appointments with a specialist at Waikato Hospital.

National guidelines say semi-urgent cancer patients must see a specialist within 20 working days.

But, as of yesterday, 20 semi-urgent patients from the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Lakeland regions had waited up to 90 working days.

The next highest priority are urgent patients, defined in national guidelines as those with symptoms that may cause major problems if not treated in "a short period of time". They must be seen within five days.

But at the end of July, 65 urgent Waikato patients had waited up to nine weeks for their first appointment with a radiation oncologist.

A further 66 patients had waited up to nine weeks for a medical oncologist.

Waikato specialists see top priority patients - those who might die or have a permanent impairment if not treated within 48 hours - within a day.

This is faster than the guideline of two days.

Over the past year, Waikato patients in the urgent and semi-urgent categories have had to wait at least twice the national guideline.

Once seen by a specialist, the majority of patients - 84 per cent - start radiation therapy within the recommended time of four weeks.

Regional cancer service manager Neil McKelvie said long waits, caused by staff shortages, was distressing to patients and staff.

The service has three radiation oncologists, but should have six.

It has 13 radiation therapists, but should have 24.

Mr McKelvie said he hoped to recruit three overseas radiation oncologists this year.

In July, overtime by staff meant 40 extra patients were seen.

Waikato Cancer Society chief executive Judy Gould said staffing shortages were a long-term problem that the society's scholarships for radiation therapists tried to address.

An independent report given to the board in July said a "critical shortage of radiation therapists" meant radiation oncology workers could not cope with demand.

- NZPA

Feature: Our sick hospitals