Paul Schofield (74), of Palmerston, is one of the patients in the urology service who has waited too long for cancer surgery.
He was told this week he would receive surgery on September 4.
It was a relief, but he was concerned not enough was being done for other patients.
On Tuesday, the SDHB released a highly critical external review that said some Dunedin urology patients were at significant clinical risk because of waiting times.
The report said some cancer patients had waited more than six months for surgery.
Under an official target they should be operated on within 31 days of the treatment decision.
Mr Schofield said affected patients should be sent to other providers and not made to wait while problems at Dunedin Hospital were sorted out.
Chief executive Chris Fleming said surgery dates for prostate patients were being confirmed.
''Of the 11 patients initially reported, one has had their surgery, and seven have surgery dates within the next eight weeks, and the remaining three are within acceptable timeframes.''
All options were being considered, including sending patients to other places, he said.
Mr Schofield paid $1200 for a private biopsy in March to diagnose his cancer because the wait would be too long at Dunedin Hospital.
When he had his diagnosis, he was told he should receive surgery promptly in the public system.
But he waited for several months before getting a date for the procedure.
''It's important that people are seen promptly, and that's why they have these guidelines of 31 days.''
Some people were unable to pay for a biopsy, and could have undiagnosed cancer, he said.
''This is very serious. If people have got life-threatening diseases they need to be seen to straight away.
''There is a problem in the hospital; they are addressing the problem, but in the meantime, there are a bunch of people who are caught in the middle.''
Mr Schofield said elected board members should be reinstated at the SDHB as it would improve accountability.
He pointed to Prime Minister Bill English's comments in Dunedin this month when Mr English said patients could be transferred to other providers if necessary.
Mr Schofield emailed Mr English's office requesting his intervention.
''Mercy Hospital has the staff and facilities ... and could provide these services immediately,'' he wrote.
Yesterday, a spokeswoman for Mr English said she could not find Mr Schofield's August 3 email, and after the Otago Daily Times re-emailed it, she said it had been transferred to Health Minister Jonathan Coleman for a response.
