An American oncologist hired two years ago to lead Bermuda Hospitals Board’s cancer services is to exit the Island in September and is currently on sick leave, leaving only part-time doctors to cover his absence.

The departure of Paul Coty from King Edward VII Memorial Hospital raises concerns for Bermuda’s cancer sufferers, according to a source, who yesterday questioned how quickly a replacement would be found and how appointments would be covered in the meantime.

Dr Coty, originally from New York, came to Bermuda in February 2012 as KEMH’s only full-time oncologist, after spending eight years in Hawaii.

A BHB spokeswoman confirmed to The Royal Gazette yesterday that he was due to leave the hospital in September and said his position was advertised many months ago.

“We will hopefully have good news about his replacement in the near future, but until details are finalised we cannot provide further details,” she said.

“We can assure the Bermuda community, however, that we remain committed to ensuring our oncology patients are cared for and will do all that is necessary to ensure that consultations and treatments are not interrupted during this time of transition.”

The spokeswoman said Dr Coty was currently on unplanned sick leave, which was expected to be over by the end of June, and she apologised to KEMH’s cancer patients for “this unexpected disruption and for the rearrangement of their consultations”.

The source, who asked not to be named, told this newspaper there were concerns about how quickly Dr Coty’s patients would be seen in his absence — and how long it would take to replace him.

“This is the same situation they were in about three years ago and it took them a year-and-half to find someone,” said the source.

“The problem today is that a lot of oncologists are specialists and it’s very hard to find a general one, which is really what Bermuda needs.”

Those comments echo remarks made in 2012 by BHB’s chief of medicine, Keith Chiappa, when Dr Coty was appointed. Dr Chiappa said the hospital required a full-time oncologist.

“As cancer patients and their families in Bermuda are aware, over the last few years we have been working hard to appoint a full-time, high quality oncologist,” he said. “The global shortage of specialists in this area has made it especially challenging.”

The source added yesterday that Dr Coty’s current absence and his imminent departure raised two main concerns.

“Patients who are already diagnosed, you have a trusting relationship with your oncologist and that’s now been pulled away. For anybody newly diagnosed, the next person you see is the oncologist. They are the one who will look at your case and meet with the tumour registry if necessary.

“They are the one who recommends what happens next — be it surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. That’s your lifeline as a cancer patient.”

The BHB spokeswoman said oncologists Tutu Aung-Hillman and Jean Walters, who have both worked at BHB before, were assisting with part-time temporary coverage.

She said Dr Walters would arrive by the end of the month, as she had other commitments until then.

“Dr Walters is working one week a month and has agreed to cover Dr Coty’s vacation before he leaves. Dr Tutu Aung-Hillman will be working three extended days [a month] while Dr Coty is away.

“We are also working closely with our clinical associate to ensure appropriate coverage. We are very grateful for the assistance of Partners Healthcare System in ensuring oncology services in Bermuda.

“Although not directly employed by BHB, there is also a visiting genito-urinary oncologist, Dr Mary Ellen Taplin, from the Dana Farber Cancer Center (part of Partners), who regularly visits Bermuda to see patients with prostate and other related cancers.

“Dr Taplin will continue to visit, as will the four Lahey physicians who see patients requiring radiation therapy for breast, prostate, gynaecological, head and neck cancers.

“At the moment, new oncology patients are individually assessed and, between our locums and the ability to refer overseas in urgent cases, oncology needs are being met, meaning that patients continue to receive effective consults and treatments.”

There were more than 200 registered cases of cancer in Bermuda in 2012, according to the most recent National Tumour Registry annual report.

Bermuda Health Council says cancer is the second leading cause of death in Bermuda, accounting for more than 30 percent of all deaths in 2009.