Non-urgent radiation oncology patients are waiting twice as long as is preferable for scans, as the department continues to have issues meeting demand. The report, to be considered by the Southern District Health Board’s hospital advisory committee on Monday, said additional capacity was being added to radiation oncology to tackle wait lists. Canterbury DHB radiation oncologists had been approached to run extra clinics for southern patients, as they had in the past, but were unable to assist. Only one staffer remained to go on sabbatical, and a fixed-term radiation oncologist was covering during all absences. "We have now confirmed the hire of the fifth radiation oncologist and we are actively recruiting into the sixth radiation oncologist role that has been agreed to, and appear to have good prospective candidates," Mr Ng said.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 27, 2020 15:22 UTC