A Masterton father says the care of his little girl could suffer when Wellington Hospital cuts its child cancer specialist availability to two days a week.
Tony King's 3-year-old daughter Sophie was diagnosed with juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma two years ago and he and his wife travel over the Rimutaka Hill regularlyto take her for chemotherapy.
Access to specialists for his daughter, and for other children with cancer in the lower North Island, is on the line after Wellington and Canterbury district health boards this week announced a plan to permanently share services.
The changes will start on October 15, when Wellington's paediatric oncologist Sarah Strandjord returns to the United States and a specialist from Christchurch replaces her until Christmas.
The oncologist's hours will then reduce to two days a week, which Mr King fears will lower the level of care for their daughter.
"The biggest effect on us is going to be the relationship with Sarah down in Wellington. The number of times we have had emergency situations and she's had everything set up, and she fully knows the needs of Sophie. We aren't going to have that any more."
Mr King says Ms Strandjord talked the couple through a dire incident when Sophie's body began to shut down and the family raced from Masterton to Wellington, fearing for her life.
Capital and Coast DHB says most children can still be catered for in Wellington, including tumour surgery, radiotherapy, outpatient clinic, day-admission and maintenance chemotherapy. Christchurch's child cancer unit is likely to be upgraded.
