A CANCER charity has demanded answers from health chiefs about breast screening services for women in parts of the Westcountry being put out to tender.

Dame Margaret Fry, chairman of the Primrose Foundation which supports services at Plymouth's Derriford Hospital, has expressed "great consternation" over the plans.

She questioned why bids have been invited from public and private organisations to run the breast screening service for women in West Devon and East Cornwall.

Managed by Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, the screening service is run out of Derriford Hospital's Primrose Unit, which is supported by the Foundation.

It has been put out to tender by commissioning bosses NHS Plymouth, who say they are looking for the best possible value for money.

Dame Margaret said: "What is the reason for this bombshell, especially since the current screening service has recently received well-deserved praise, as one of the best in the country, by the independent Quality Assurance Body? We await results with great concern and fear."

In a letter sent to board members at Plymouth Hospitals and NHS Plymouth, Dame Fry said the Foundation was concerned about preservation of the quality of the service.

Primrose Foundation deputy chairman Colin Teasdale, a former consultant surgeon who helped create the Primrose Unit, said: "The trustees feel angry about it because the service is running very well, receiving plaudits from the Quality Assurance Body.

"The trustees are all of one mind. We can't see why there's any need for change."

Derriford Hospital bosses said they are working extremely hard to retain the service. A spokesman for Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said: "The trust is fully committed to providing this service to the women in West Devon and East Cornwall and is working extremely hard to retain the service.

"The staff of the Primrose Breast Care Unit are a hardworking dedicated team who strive to meet and maintain high standards."

John Harrison, director of performance and procurement for NHS Plymouth, said they recognised the high quality of the existing breast screening service provided by Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust.

"As commissioners, we have looked at how best to achieve an increase in capacity and the move to digital mammography, whilst ensuring we are receiving the best value-for-money service," he said.

"We must consider which method of procurement to use when introducing changes to the current service position.

"The procurement process will give us an assurance that we are receiving the best possible service, along with value for money.

"We hope that the existing NHS provider will be putting forward a strong proposal.

"They are fully engaged with the process."

The tender process is expected to finish in December.

"Whoever is chosen to manage the service, it would remain free to patients.