An impending staffing crisis in the Southern Blood and Cancer haematology service has abated "for now", the Southern District Health Board's hospitals' advisory committee will be told this week.
A month ago, the board's emergency, medicine and surgery group reported that the search for a locum or permanent haematologists to replace those who had left or were on leave had been unsuccessful.
It warned then that in two months' time there might be no medical officer on staff and that it could mean patients would have to travel out of the region.
As the service coped with one haematologist instead of its usual three, general practitioners had been advised that patients sent on routine referrals could not be seen, although patients with malignant blood conditions would be.
In this month's report, to be considered tomorrow, the group says there have been "unexpected workforce improvements" - the retraction of a resignation, an early return to work after maternity leave, and a successful locum appointment.
