Rural Nurse Specialist Nerys Williams administering chemotherapy treatment to patient Mel Pomana. Photo: Supplied
Wairoa patients will continue to get chemotherapy services in the northern Hawke's Bay town, rather than travelling hours for treatment.
Clinical staff had been pushing for the move for years.
But the treatment was first offered locally in the wake of road closures following Cyclone Gabrielle.
Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora has confirmed the move would be permanent.
Hawke's Bay Hospital clinical nurse manager Laura Ledger said it was great for the patients who faced up to three hours into Hastings.
"Patients that were leaving early mornings, getting home at night after a long day of chemotherapy and clinical reviews, tired, feeling sick, having to make lots of stops."
Even before the cyclone the road was often closed during bad weather, she told Morning Report.
"We were at work morning after cyclone and made aware road wasn't going to open.
"I got tasked with the lucky job of getting it over the line with the team and within 10 days of the cyclone we were actually up in Wairoa giving treatment to the patients."
A clinical specialist is now based in Wairoa and a oncologist doctor travels up once a month.
Ledger said 27 patients had received treatment there over the past year, and more than 50 had been reviewed.
