The hospital is supposed to have eight permanent radiation oncologists, but has just three — and another will leave in November.
The lack of senior staff caused the College of Radiologists to rule that from next month, the hospital must stop training radiation oncologists.
Four junior doctors will be helped to continue their training elsewhere.
Dr Verrall told the Otago Daily Times yesterday she was "very frustrated" earlier action was not taken, referencing a damning Health and Disability Commissioner (HDC) report released earlier in the year.
Dr Verrall said the issue had to be addressed, and recruitment efforts both nationally and in Southern would continue as a matter of "utmost priority" for Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand (HNZ).
"We are also talking with the national cancer agency and clinicians around the country to make sure that everyone is cared for as they should be."
Patient transfers to other parts of the country were possible, but the government’s priority was recruiting staff to make sure there was a sustainable service, she said.
Training for radiation oncologists in New Zealand would also continue, and she was confident Southern patients would be cared for.
The HDC report assessed non-surgical cancer treatment services from 2016 to 2022, and found hundreds of people in Otago and Southland suffered harm as repeated calls to address dire wait times for cancer treatment were ignored.
Staff shortages were among the issues raised, and HNZ said it was recruiting for up to three more radiation oncologists following the release of the report.
South Island hospital and specialist services director Dan Pallister-Coward said HNZ had been trying to recruit and retain staff for the radiation oncology service over several years.
"It has proved very difficult."
A locum workforce providing both in-person and virtual consultations was helping while recruitment efforts continued.
HNZ was "fully committed" to continuing to provide radiation treatment in Southern, he said.
He did not say what percentage of patients would have to travel elsewhere in the country for treatment, but said it was an option discussed with some patients who required less complex care.
HNZ was doing everything it could to ensure patients were receiving care as close to home as possible, he said.
In the past 18 months it had invested significantly in Southern cancer care, hiring about 24 new full-time staff including medical physicists, radiation therapists, administration staff, medical registrars and nurses.
"We have also successfully recruited into our haematology and medical oncology SMO [senior medical officer] workforce, but it has remained challenging to secure permanent radiation oncologists.
"This continues to be our primary focus."
The radiation oncologist shortage has been an ongoing issue — last month the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists told the ODT better pay was needed to keep them from leaving for more lucrative jobs overseas, especially as inflation meant they had taken a pay cut in real terms.
Staff shortages also put more pressure on those who remained, making burnout an issue.
It was a message reiterated by those at the senior doctors’ strike earlier this week.
Patient advocate Melissa Vining said yesterday despite government promises the postcode lottery for healthcare had only worsened since 2018, when her late husband Blair Vining was sick with bowel cancer.
"I think it is incredibly sad for the patients of Southland and Otago and will only further contribute to the long delays for patients and disparity of care," she said.
Ms Vining, whose initial complaint about southern cancer treatment waiting lists sparked the HDC investigation, said it was another indication of years of neglect by successive governments.
"Health workforce, pay, conditions and recruitment need to be the No 1 priority for all political parties leading into election as none of the current policies are suggesting enough investment to resolve the current crisis."
Cancer Society Otago-Southland division chief executive Nicola Coom said staff shortages were worrying and the society was very concerned about cancer services at Dunedin Hospital.
Under-investment in the health workforce had been occurring for decades, and the solution needed collaboration.
"The Cancer Society is proud to be part of this group and we are committed to supporting families and advocating for the highest standard of cancer care." — Additional reporting Mike Houlahan.
