Cancer patients are concerned they could once again be left without an oncologist after Bermuda Hospitals Board have yet to find a full-time specialist.

Oncologist Eugene Tilchen began his six-month contract with the hospital on October 12 — he was hired to replace Tu Tu Aung Hillman, who left the Island in July.

A Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) spokeswoman said it was conducting a "robust search" to secure a full-time oncologist.

In the meantime the organisation continues to work with Massachusetts-based Lahey Clinic and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute to ensure oncology services are available to patients on-Island, she added.

Shadow Health Minister Louise Jackson said the BHB needed to do more.

"This is a long-standing problem at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. This has meant that cancer patients are not given the specialist attention that they must have to stay alive."

She claimed general practitioners were not equipped to deal with the diagnosis and treatment of various strains of cancer.

And she said many patients experienced stress during the months without an oncologist, particularly those who could not afford to go away for treatment.

A cancer patient who asked not to be named said: "I had to wait about three months to see an oncologist so it is pretty hard on you when you keep calling up and there is no one there. You have no idea what treatment you are going to get or how bad it is."

People without comprehensive insurance like HIP could not afford to go overseas for treatment, he said.

Meanwhile a woman whose mother has cancer told The Royal Gazette: "I know several people who have cancer or have died from cancer and they have all said the same thing — they are tired of having to tell the same story again and again and not have the backup of someone to call when they need help.

"If it wasn't for the PALS nurses it would be extremely disastrous — they have to be overworked for sure."

The BHB spokeswoman said: "Our former permanent oncologist provided care at KEMH for three years before leaving Bermuda in July.

"Since then, we have conducted a robust recruitment process to secure a general oncologist, while working in collaboration with our partners in Lahey and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute to ensure oncology services remain available to patients on-Island.

"We have also arranged for on-site locums to provide care over the past few months. BHB faces the same challenges as other jurisdictions in that there is a global shortage of both general and specialist oncologists."

During the search for an appropriate permanent oncologist, care was being provided to cancer patients including through emergency support via telephone and telemedicine consultations with Lahey Clinic, she added.