Assurances have been provided about the long-term future of cancer radiation services in Dunedin amid a staffing crisis.
Several services have been suspended at Dunedin Hospital, which is understaffed with radiation oncologists and the four who remain are reported to be either near retirement age or looking to leave.
"While we are currently experiencing workforce challenges with radiation oncologists in Southern, Te Whatu Ora remains committed to providing radiation oncology services in Dunedin long term," HNZ hospital and specialist services regional director Dan Pallister-Coward said.
"We are actively recruiting for more staff to help reduce wait times and in the meantime we have contingencies in place, which include the use of locums, having current staff work additional hours and providing services outside the region."
HNZ is recruiting for up to three more radiation oncologists in the South.
Meanwhile, the southern region does not have specialist capability for brain tumours, gynaecological cancers and benign tumours.
The southern district covers about 350,000 people in the lower South Island.
Some patients are being sent to Christchurch for care.
Mr Pallister-Coward acknowledged some southern patients were waiting "longer than is ideal" to have their first specialist appointment.
"Our team in Southern is working very hard to support patients and their family as we navigate through these challenges," he said.
As at March 29, 133 patients were waiting for their first specialist appointment.
Just 63% of patients referred were being seen within targeted waiting times.
Forty-four patients were waiting for treatment to start.
Ninety percent of patients who were awaiting treatment received it within targeted wait times.
The staffing crisis prompted frustrated radiation oncologist Dr Lyndell Kelly to say this week "don’t get cancer in Dunedin", and this was raised in Parliament yesterday by National Party health spokesman Dr Shane Reti.
Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall pointed to the benefits of a centralised approach over the previous system of district health boards (DHBs).
"I am concerned about the situation for radiation oncology and what I can say is that whereas that DHB might have been left, in the past, to deal with that situation individually, we now have a national health service that is co-ordinating across specialists around the country to make sure those people get the care they need."
Patient Voice Aotearoa yesterday called for a national health summit and urgent bipartisan political action to do something about severe doctor shortages "and the cancellation of swathes of cancer services across the southern district".
Organisation chairman Dr Malcolm Mulholland said problems plaguing the health system required a long-term plan in response.
"It’s time for Dr Verrall from the deep south and Dr Reti from the far north to come together in the national interests of our health system."
Dr Verrall acknowledged there were longstanding problems in the health system.
"The reformed health system allows us to co-ordinate nationally to ensure patients in need of care get it," she said.
"That is exactly how we are responding to the situation for radiation oncologists in the southern district."
Dr Reti said he had "huge sympathy for those struggling with the ballooning health wait lists and getting access to timely healthcare".
