Lakes DHB provides oncology services locally as well as from an outreach clinic of Waikato DHB.
Patients are seen both by the local Medical Oncology team as well as visiting Medical Oncologists, Radiation Oncologists and Haematologists.
Beginning 8th June 2020, Lakes DHB has employed a second medical oncologist, Alistair Wickham.
The Rotorua Medical Oncology team run three clinics per week - Monday, Tuesday and Friday.
The Haematology team visits four times a month and the Radiation Oncologist visits Lakes DHB from Waikato DHB once a month.
Oncology services are supported by Cancer Care Co-ordinators, Cancer Psychologists, Palliative Care, Dietitians, Social Workers and Occupational Therapists, as well as other community organisations such as Cancer Society, Hospice and Aroha Mai.
Chemotherapy Unit
The Rotorua Chemotherapy Unit is a 9 chair, 3 bed unit. This is where staff administer a variety of infusions specific to the patient’s conditions e.g. chemotherapy, immunotherapy, blood transfusions and bisphosphonate infusions.
The service is available Monday to Friday 8am - 4.30pm at Rotorua Hospital.
The Chemotherapy Unit provides services at Taupō Hospital once a week, with limited time and space. Not every Taupō patient can be treated in Taupō.
| Rotorua Chemotherapy Unit | |
| Phone: | (07) 349 7989 |
| Fax: | (07) 349 7865 |
Where to find us: see the Rotorua Hospital and Taupō Hospital maps.
What is Oncology?
Oncology is the area of medicine involving cancer. An oncologist is a doctor specialising in the treatment of cancer with targeting agents such as immunotherapy, chemotherapy or radiation. A haematologist specialises in tumours of blood such as leukaemia and lymphoma. Oncologists collaborate closely with surgeons and general physicians to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
