Health chiefs are refusing to reveal why a much-needed cancer specialist has left the Island — months before his contract with the Bermuda Hospitals Board expires.

And officials are also refusing to give details of any contingency plans put in place to cover the absence of Director of Oncology Paul Coty — or whether the US physician is still on the payroll of the board.

Last month, The Royal Gazette revealed that Dr Coty had resigned and was due to leave the Island this September — one year before his three-year contract was due to expire.

He was also placed on sick leave, sparking fears that his absence could affect treatments of desperate cancer patients.

The board quickly moved to quash those concerns, pointing out that Dr Coty was expected to return to work from sick leave at the end of June.

And it later revealed that a new oncologist — Dr Sein Aung — had been appointed to replace Dr Coty in the autumn.

But announcing Dr Aung’s appointment last week, King Edward VII Memorial Hospital’s Chief of Medicine Keith Chiappa let slip that Dr Coty had already left the Island “and will not be returning to Bermuda”.

The announcement means that the hospital will be without an oncologist specialist for the next three months.

After Dr Coty had been placed on sick leave earlier this year, a number of part-time doctors covered his duties.

But yesterday officials were unable to confirm that those interim arrangements would remain in place until Dr Aung’s arrival or if Dr Coty was still receiving a BHB salary.

Describing the situation as “unexpected”, a BHB spokeswoman said: “Details of employee contracts are treated as confidential information and are not shared publicly.

“BHB can confirm Dr Paul Coty is not returning to Bermuda. We are also confirming alternative arrangements are being made to cover his practice.

“BHB is currently reviewing the contractual requirements of this unexpected situation. We remain grateful to Dr Jean Walters, Dr Tutu Aung-Hillman and our overseas physicians and providers for ensuring that people in Bermuda will continue to have access to the care they need during the next three months.”

Asked by this newspaper to clarify the current state of cancer care on the Island, the spokeswoman replied: “We have already responded to these queries and, at this time, we have nothing further to add.”

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