Prostate cancer patients could face delays in getting diagnosed and treated when one of only two urologists leaves Bermuda at the end of this month.

Dr Suren de Zylva joined Dr Charles Dyer’s urology practice last September, but will return to the UK after less than ten months on the Island.

And a source at the practice said the departure will create a backlog of patients getting screened and treated for prostate cancer and a host of urological conditions.

Dr Dyer, who is believed to be in his mid-70s, is said to have gone into semi-retirement after recruiting Dr de Zylva and now works just three days a week.

Yesterday The Royal Gazette revealed that oncologist Dr Paul Coty, brought in by the Bermuda Hospitals Board two years ago to lead its cancer services, was currently on sick leave and is also preparing to quit the Island, leaving only part-time doctors to cover his absence.

Last night the source at Dr Dyer’s practice said the office was swamped with patients, and that Dr de Zylva had managed to reduce waiting lists during his short stint.

“My concern is that there’s such a high demand for urologists here,” the source said.

“It’s not just prostate patients that are seen, there are people with bladder and kidney and renal issues. For example, so many Bermudians seem to suffer from kidney stones.”

The source, who asked not to be named, said that patients had had to wait for up to six weeks before Dr de Zylva was appointed, but that figure had since been reduced.

“Dr Dyer is now semi-retired — he’s slowed down a lot since Dr de Zylva arrived,” the source said. “When Dr de Zylva leaves it’s going to be a case of waiting list-plus. We’re going to go right back to how it was before.”

Dr Dyer and Dr de Zylva could not be contacted for comment last night.