A second medical oncologist who recently joined Dunedin's burgeoning private chemotherapy service is expected to increase patient numbers, Mercy Hospital chief executive Richard Whitney says.
Since the middle of last year, Mercy has offered a private chemotherapy service, which in its first 13 months, to June 30, 2012, treated 26 patients during 195 chemotherapy visits.
Long-standing Dunedin medical oncologist Dr David Perez joined the service in late July, the first time he had been in private practice.
Mr Whitney said the service's first year slightly exceeded expectations in terms of patient numbers.
With Dr Perez on board, numbers would increase, partly because of his expertise in breast cancer therapies.
Also, being a well-known specialist, he would draw more patients to the service.
Dr Perez joined Dr Chris Jackson, the service's sole medical oncologist in its first year. Both continue to practise at Dunedin Hospital as well as their private work.
Patients were drawn from throughout Otago and Southland.
As well as in Dunedin, Mercy provided chemotherapy in Central Otago, having reached agreement with Central Otago Health Services to provide it at Dunstan Hospital.
Mr Whitney said planning had started on a dedicated chemotherapy suite, to be completed within the next two or three years.
Dr Perez said when contacted the private service allowed him to offer drugs not funded by Pharmac, which were increasing in number.
Before the service started, patients seeking private treatment had to travel to Christchurch.
He said his preferred option had been the public-private scheme proposed by Southern District Health Board, whereby patients could have paid for top-up drugs.
Health Minister Tony Ryall declined Southern DHB permission for that scheme in 2010.
