Waikato DHB patients needing non-urgent face and neck surgery face seven-month wait

Covid-19 and vacancies in the maxillofacial department at Waikato Hospital have pushed out wait times on elective surgeries there to seven months. Photo / File

Up to three patients a week are missing out on reconstructive facial surgery and being pushed onto a seven-month wait list at one of the country's largest hospitals because of vacancies and Covid-19.

And sources close to Waikato District Health Board claim surgeons in the maxillofacial department are spread so thinly they can't cover on-call emergencies.

However the DHB says it is actively recruiting to the Waikato Hospital department and on-call cover is a contractual obligation of the doctors employed there.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery focuses on reconstructive surgery of the face, facial trauma surgery, the oral cavity, head and neck, mouth and jaws, as well as facial cosmetic surgery.

Patients include people who have suffered face and neck injuries through accidents, illnesses and genetic conditions as well as cancer sufferers.

Waikato Hospital is resourced to employ four full-time equivalent positions but it only has 2.3.

The DHB wouldn't say if any of the doctors also worked in private practice. The department currently has an interim clinical director.

A source told the Herald the service was so understaffed that it may not be able to provide patients with major facial trauma expert care without calling in outside help.

A Waikato DHB spokesman denied patient safety was at risk and said when more on-call cover was needed locums or neighbouring DHBs would be called in.

"Each SMO [senior medical officer] is required as part of their employment contract to participate in the on-call roster," he said.

"In the event of a vacancy, discussions are held with SMOs within the department to determine availability to provide cover.

"Where additional cover is required an external solution is sought by way of locum or broader network cover."

The DHB said the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the vacancies meant the wait for non-urgent surgeries had increased from four months to seven.

It meant elective surgeries had reduced by two to three patients a week.

"Patients are prioritised in order of urgency and time waiting. There is a plan to outsource some to private facilities."

The Covid-19 lockdown temporarily halted non-urgent surgeries across the country causing the backlog at the department.

The DHB said it was actively recruiting to fill the vacant roles but because of Covid-19 international candidates had become increasingly difficult to recruit.

"But an offer has been made along with a number of discussions under way to bring suitably qualified candidates onto the team."

The offer of employment had been accepted and the person would start in January.

"We are still recruiting to the second position."

In 2018 the hospital's plastic surgery department was so severely understaffed doctors said they were constantly on call and working days without rest, putting patients at risk and forcing cancellation of clinics and surgeries.

The junior doctors claimed the unit was operating illegally because of the shortage and forced the DHB to make changes.