# Mother heartbroken as toddler's cancer treatment delayed

> Starship Hospital staff shortages delay toddler's cancer treatment.
- Title: Mother heartbroken as toddler's cancer treatment delayed · RNZ
- Summary: Starship Hospital staff shortages delay toddler's cancer treatment. Tanya Lapu'aho's two-and-a-half-year-old son's cancer treatment was delayed for up to…
- Keywords: tanya lapu'aho, killian, starship hospital, neuroblastoma, cancer treatment, staff shortages, nursing staff, bone marrow transplant, chemotherapy, politics, news, Mother
- Source: RNZ — https://rnz.co.nz/news/health/1942123/mother-heartbroken-toddler-s-cancer-treatment-delayed-by-starship-hospital-staff-shortages
- Author: RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa
- Published: 2026-10-15T21:45:48+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: tanya lapu'aho, killian, starship hospital, neuroblastoma, cancer treatment, staff shortages, nursing staff, bone marrow transplant, chemotherapy, politics, news
## Toddler diagnosed with high-risk cancer
Tanya Lapu'aho's two-and-a-half-year-old son Killian was diagnosed in January with high-risk neuroblastoma.
## Cancer treatment delayed for seven days
Some chemotherapy and bone marrow treatments have been delayed at Starship Hospital for up to seven days due to staff shortages.
## Second bone marrow transplant delayed
Lapu'aho said her son's second bone marrow transplant was delayed at least a week because there were not enough specialist nurses.
## Nursing staff overwhelmed
Lapu'aho said babies were bearing the brunt of delays as nursing staff were overwhelmed with patient care.
## Pain relief delays
On average, nurses took 20 minutes to respond to pain relief calls, causing significant distress for the child.
## Health minister claims vacancies filled
Health Minister Simeon Brown insisted all eight vacant paediatric haematology/oncology roles had been filled or recruited for.
## Health NZ timeline for staffing
Health NZ confirmed it would take three months before the ward was fully staffed, with seven nurses starting over that period.
## Nurses Organisation response
Nurses Organisation Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku said the situation was not a surprise and better workforce planning was needed.
## Staffing crisis impact
Lapu'aho said staff were overworked and under-resourced, with a hiring freeze reported by a charge nurse.
## Key takeaway

Tanya Lapu'aho's two-and-a-half-year-old son's cancer treatment was delayed for up to seven days due to nursing staff shortages at Starship Hospital.