Chemotherapy treatments resumed Monday at Whitehorse General Hospital with the arrival of a temporary chemo nurse, says the hospital's chief operating officer.

Jason Bilsky said Tuesday the nurse arrived last Sunday night from Vancouver Island. She began providing the service as soon as she was oriented with the local chemotherapy unit.

The nurse will be available for a week beyond the Nov. 5 return of the previous temporary nurse, and possibly again in the future, Bilsky said.

He said the hospital is continuing to search for ways to shore up its chemo unit with a more permanent solution.

Because of unforeseen circumstances in staffing for the unit, the hospital was forced to send out notices to local doctors informing them there was a possibility chemo could be unavailable locally for three weeks from Oct. 16 to Nov. 5.

Hospital spokeswoman Val Pike explained at the time they were having a hard time attracting a full-time chemo nurse, because they are in short supply right across Canada.

The hospital, she said, was searching high and low with the assistance of the B.C. cancer agency to see if they could find a nurse to fill in for the three weeks.

Bilsky said of the four patients scheduled for treatment last week, one had to be flown south but it was possible to defer treatment for the other three who will be receiving it this week.

There are between 22 and 24 patients on the chemo list, he said.

The chief operating officer said a local registered nurse who was previously certified to provide the treatment has also expressed an interest in re-certifying, and is currently working through the process with the B.C. Cancer Agency.

Ideally, said Bilsky, there would be two local chemotherapy nurses to ensure there is backup.