3rd March 2020 Oncology Update Dear All I have had some enquiries around Cancer service delivery during the COVID pandemic. Below are some specifics, however the general message is IT IS BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR ONCOLOGY PATIENTS. The MoH is monitoring the situation and will make decisions centrally around any changes in service delivery should resource constraints occur. Our service is at yellow alert level. We have deferred a small number of non-urgent or very low impact therapies. In addition, some patients are choosing to cease therapy, at least for a time due to the COVID risk along with some who we have advised to stop treatment n due to the risk. To reiterate – for referrals of new patients is BUSINESS AS USUAL FOR ONCOLOGY PATIENTS. All patients will be assessed, and treatment decisions made in the best interest of the patient – with the patient and family. We are maintaining both cancer centres at Whakatane and Tauranga as clean units. All patients who attend are screened prior to entering the units and we are doing most consult by phone to prevent patients having to break social isolation and we are wearing PPE as required (Dr North has been seen in scrubs!). In Tauranga inpatient care is being provided by the general physicians – we are very grateful that they are providing front line assessment and will support them in clinical management decision making as required. Our Whakatane inpatient work has always been done expertly by our amazing colleagues there so this has not changed. Please, if you have questions or concerns contact me or your favourite oncologist (assuming that it not me!) for advice. Finally, unless there is a clear contra-indication every oncology patient should be getting the flu jab, and so should everyone reading this. GB Richard North Medical Oncologist 021870676.
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