Southland man spends 700 days with temporary catheter

Tuesday 3 November 2026 · 3 outlets · 2 reports · updated Tue 3 Nov, 7:26am

An 82-year-old Southland man has lived with a temporary catheter for 700 days while waiting for surgery. He has faced monthly medical emergencies due to blocked catheters. The situation occurs as the region faces a shortage of urologists.

How they headlined it

5:52am7:26am

1. RNZTue 3 Nov, 5:52am

   700 days with a catheter, seven months waiting for 'urgent priority' cancer care (opens in new tab)

   Also on The Press (opens in new tab)

2. Otago Daily TimesTue 3 Nov, 7:26am

   Southland man spends 700 days with ‘temporary’ catheter as region suffers through lack of urologists (opens in new tab)