Te Whatu Ora's apologising to cancer patients who may face disruption due to a shortage of senior doctors at Dunedin Hospital.
The hospital will lose its accreditation to train junior oncology doctors next month because it doesn't have enough senior staff. The unit should have eight specialists, but it's down to just three and one of those is leaving in November.
The hospital was warned in April that its right to keep training cancer doctors was in jeopardy.
Te Whatu Ora concedes that some patients and staff may have to travel more as a result as pressures comes on cancer services.
Its interim Chief National medical officer, Dr Nick Baker speaks to Lisa Owen.
