The plight of cancer patients having to travel away from their homes & families for treatment. The Cancer Society in Christchurch is having to use motels to house Otago/Southland cancer patients and their whanau, because their other accommodation is full to overflowing. Around a dozen patients have had to come to Christchurch due to a lack of medical specialists in their area, nine families are in motels. All 36 rooms at Christchurch's Daffodil house and Daffodil lodge full with patients from different districts. On Friday Te Whatu apologised to cancer patients who may face disruption due to shortages of senior doctors at Dunedin Hospital. The oncology unit there should have eight specialists, but it's down to just three and one of those is leaving in November meaning the hospital is also losing its accrediation to train junior onoclogy doctors too. And Health NZ says that could mean even more patients having to travel for treatment, although it can't say how many.
Cancer treatment accomodation full in Christchurch as shortage forces patients to travel stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.