Canterbury to back Wellington's child cancer services

Wellington's child cancer service has been given much needed support from the Canterbury District Health Board.

Canterbury District Health would work with Wellington's embattled Capital and Coast District Health Board to back up and support its specialised child cancer services, The Dominion Post reported today.

Patients in the lower North Island are being sent to Auckland and Christchurch as Capital and Coast advertises for two paediatric oncologists to resolve a staffing crisis.

Canterbury health board had agreed in principle to set up a joint paediatric oncology service, the newspaper reported.

Canterbury chief medical officer of health Nigel Millar said the board was keen to offer a combined service that would provide better backup for the new doctors in Wellington.

- NZPA