Second doctor says MidCentral Health gagging staff

The senior radiation oncologist, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said MidCentral Health was lying when it said on Friday that staff weren't gagged.

Last week, Johan Nel wrote a letter to the Manawatu Standard expressing his disgust at waiting lists for radiation therapy. He revealed some patients were waiting up to four times longer for treatment than the national guidelines stipulate - with some waiting up to 17 weeks.

When the Standard approached him for further comment, Dr Nel said he had been told he was not allowed to speak to the media.

Last week MidCentral Health denied these claims. A spokesman said: "We do not gag or censor our staff", and "I don't know who told him not to speak to the media".

And the same spokesman continued to deny the claims last night.

"We don't gag our staff. If that impression was given it's most unfortunate." He said if the senior radiation oncologist's name was known he would be able to make further comment.

But the second senior doctor said the hospital's claim the doctors has not been silenced was a "direct lie".

He said the same day MidCentral Health rejected Dr Nel's claim he had been silenced, staff at a weekly radiation department meeting were explicitly instructed not to talk to the media.

"In fact, contrary to what the DHB had told you, we had a staff meeting . . . [on January 22] and that was brought up as part of it."

A senior colleague addressed the meeting, saying he had received instructions from someone further up in the hospital hierarchy, the doctor said.

"He was passing on a message that we were told not to talk if the media contacted us."

Dr Nel's letter said radiation therapy waiting lists were "appalling", with no sign of improvement unless the hospital's budget was increased.

He called on board chairman Murray Georgel and other board members to lead a protest march on Parliament.

Last week, MidCentral said most patients were seen within the recommended timeframe, but went on to say treatment times would be brought back to "acceptable" levels within six months.

Staff were working overtime and a new linear accelerator machine would speed therapy up, it said.

The senior doctor said this was not true.

"What Johan has said is fairly close to the money.

"Clearly there's not enough resources - that's a fact. But the DHB and senior hospital management have been aware of this for probably three years. . . It seems to be the accepted norm now."

MidCentral had claimed staff were working overtime and weekends to cull the waiting list. This had not been standard practice, and with at least four staff members going on maternity leave in the next few months, the doctor feared treatment times would increase.

"It's more likely there will be less treatment in the next six months, rather than more."

A new $4 million linear accelerator, which was meant to replace an old unit, would not be enough to get treatment times down, he said.