Dad blasts Simeon Brown over response to Starship cancer treatment delays

The father of a little girl who had surgery at Starship for a brain tumour before undergoing six rounds of chemotherapy has hit out at the politicising of child cancer in the run-up to an election. 

Timaru dad Shaun Todd says downplaying cancer treatment delays for sick children is a cruel blow to desperate families for whom days, or even hours, can mean the difference for their survival. 

“Just do better,” Todd told the Herald. “Fix it. Stop using cancer kids as a political football.” 

The Herald revealed yesterday that cancer treatment for patients at Starship children’s hospital’s oncology department had been delayed by up to a week due to nursing shortages and high demand. 

Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora confirmed that 20 cycles of chemotherapy were delayed over the last four months by up to seven days and two bone marrow transplants were delayed by “a short amount of time”. 

Sources said staff were “horrified” after learning of the postponements and feared they could adversely affect patient outcomes. 

Health Minister Simeon Brown hit back by denying treatment had been “suspended” and claiming there was no hiring freeze at Health NZ. 

Todd’s daughter celebrated her third birthday at Starship last year after undergoing “debulking” surgery to remove a brain tumour. 

The family spent a month at the hospital before they were transferred to Christchurch, where his daughter endured six rounds of high-dose chemotherapy. 

“We got all the terrible things told to us. ‘Don’t expect her to survive. We don’t know what this is. Don’t expect chemo to work’.” 

The family later travelled to the US for proton treatment and Todd’s daughter is now doing well, undergoing regular scans, “going to kindy and doing the things a normal 4-year-old kid should do”. 

He said the nurses and doctors were fantastic and “I should be sitting here singing the praises of the health system because they do wonderful things”. 

However, Todd was furious to read Brown’s comments yesterday, which he claimed flew in the face of reality. 

“To see the minister’s post and to claim that’s not actually what’s happening angered me – upset the hell out of me,” he said. 

“Frankly it’s just a load of s***. To see cancer kids being used as political footballs ... I’m equally p***** off with Labour.” 

Todd said his family saw first-hand the pressure that health staff were under and nursing vacancies not being filled “because there isn’t the money”. 

Having been in the shoes of parents at Starship’s oncology ward, Todd said learning of treatment delays “makes the whole situation even more scary than it already is”. 

“Families are already going through the most unimaginable situation. I know what those families are going through. 

“You’re talking about days, you’re talking about hours sometimes, on what makes the difference in these kids’ chances to actually fight. And taking days away can be the difference between a kid surviving and a kid not. 

“The fact that that is a political football is disgusting. I think the minister should be ashamed.” 

Claims by Brown that no treatments had been suspended were disingenuous, Todd said. 

“Of course they haven’t been suspended because no doctor or nurse is going to walk away from that, but there have been delays. Face into that, own up, do better.” 

The Herald has sought comment from Brown. 

‘It shouldn’t have come to this’ 

Yesterday, the nurses union claimed nearly half of shifts at Starship’s oncology ward were below safe staffing levels this year. 

Nurses Organisation president Kerri Nuku said health bosses should have hired more nurses rather than delaying vital cancer treatments for sick kids. 

“It shouldn’t have come to this. 

“Health Minister Simeon Brown can argue oncology services are being postponed and not suspended, but such semantics are unlikely to be important to whānau with children with cancer.” 

Brown has now asked Health NZ chief executive Dale Bramley for an explanation after being alerted to the delays by the Herald. 

He confirmed yesterday that “a handful” of chemotherapy sessions had been delayed by up to seven days and two bone marrow transplants had been “moved slightly” from their original dates. 

Brown said Starship was managing demand and winter pressures as usual, and clinical teams were involved in the decisions. 

Meanwhile, another Starship source told the Herald that understaffing was causing severe pressure in the oncology ward, which they claimed had resulted in several clinical errors this year relating to medicines. 

The source described what they believed was an “effective sinking lid policy”. 

“We’re not allowed to replace people. We’re down to low numbers. And also, they’re only allowed to hire junior nurses so if an experienced nurse leaves, you’re not allowed to get like for like. 

“So over time there’s a depletion of clinical knowledge and experience. Those staff are under much more pressure, which can lead to errors.” 

A statement from Brown’s office said Starship nursing vacancies were because of natural attrition. The staffing situation had improved since August and all vacancies were expected to be filled by December-January. 

The statement claimed there was no hiring freeze at Health NZ. 

Patient safety ‘always the highest priority’ 

Health New Zealand’s Auckland group director of operations, Dr Mike Shepherd, said patient safety and high-quality care was always the highest priority. 

“Starship has not suspended any cancer treatments and no children have missed out on cancer care. 

“Treatment schedules are routinely adjusted to match capacity and this has been done more frequently during recent staffing challenges. This is prioritised in a way which ensures the highest risk patients have little to no delay in treatment.” 

Shepherd said finding the right trained and experienced staff took time for a specialist area. 

Workload challenges in the oncology ward had been exacerbated by winter, with staff sickness and high demand, but staffing levels had improved in recent months. 

Starship children's hospital in Auckland is home to the national child cancer unit. Photo / Michael Craig 

A Starship nurse said the severe shortage was not simply related to the winter flu spike. It had been critical “all of this year”. 

She feared the postponements could adversely affect patient outcomes. 

“You’re increasing the risk of complications and death from cancers. 

“It’s so wrong. It’s ridiculous that it’s even happening. You can delay other things without impacting a child’s outcomes.” 

Child Cancer Foundation responds 

Child Cancer Foundation chief executive Monica Briggs said uncertainty around treatment delays could be “deeply unsettling” for families. 

“Our hearts are with every child with cancer and their whānau who may be feeling anxious in light of this news.” 

Briggs said the foundation recognised the extraordinary work of the healthcare professionals who cared for these children and families in increasingly challenging circumstances. 

“While clinical decisions and hospital operations sit with health providers, our commitment to families remains unwavering. We will continue to provide practical and emotional support – drawing our families closer at this time. 

“Our purpose has always been to ensure no family faces childhood cancer alone. Now, more than ever, we want families to know that we are here, we care deeply and we will continue walking alongside them every step of the way.” 

Lane Nichols is Auckland Desk Editor and a senior journalist for the New Zealand Herald with more than 20 years’ experience in the industry.