Inquiry calls over cancer move plan
PRESSURE is mounting for a independent public inquiry to be held into the transfer of specialist cancer services out of Cornwall.
Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley is the latest to call for an investigation into the decision to move Upper Gastro-Intestinal cancer services from Truro to Plymouth.
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The campaign kicked off when the Western Morning News exclusively revealed unpublished legal advice suggesting moving services without a formal public consultation may have been unlawful.
The advice was sought by the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust last year and the transfer was subsequently given the go-ahead following a process of public "engagement" to allay fears.
Bosses at NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, the primary care trust which funds the service, have since released their own legal advice which supports their actions.
However, Mr Lansley rejected this and the arguments to move services from Cornwall in the first place.
He said there was enough of a question mark in many people's minds to justify an inquiry.
"It's important that local access to the NHS is considered as well as safety," he said.
"Where services are safe, local need is clear and support from GPs and patients is strong, I can see no case for removing local services.
"It's clear that local people don't feel that their voice has been heard on the plan to move cancer services out of Cornwall.
"The Government and NHS authorities have provided no good evidence as to why cancer patients in Cornwall should lose their local services."
Mr Lansley said he had visited the Royal Cornwall Hospital twice and been impressed by the staff he had met.
"They should be supported in these efforts, not undermined by a one-size- fits-all national plan that doesn't prioritise local patients' needs and wishes," he said, adding an independent inquiry was the only way the decision could "command public confidence".
Mr Lansley also called on the people of Cornwall to directly lobby Health Secretary Andy Burnham in a letter-writing campaign.
The WMN contacted Mr Burnham's office to ask whether he would be intervening. However, a Department of Health spokesman said he would not.
"At this stage, we are unable to provide a comment as it's a local decision," the spokesman added.
The plans to transfer upper GI cancer services have prompted a massive public backlash in Cornwall.
After the WMN revealed the RCHT advice, the county's MPs demanded an inquiry.
However, managers at NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly have insisted they are acting in the best interests of patients by transferring the service to achieve better outcomes.
The organisation dismissed the RCHT's legal advice as based on flawed information and said an independent clinical review had backed the switch.
A spokesman for the PCT and RCHT said they were "absolutely confident" it was the correct decision for patients.
"The decision to centralise surgery for this very rare type of cancer was made in line with national best practice and the expert advice of some of the most senior clinicians in the country," she said. "There is clear evidence that this move will save lives."
6 Comments
by Mike Moseley, The Lizard
Tuesday, November 03 2009, 7:50AM
“Hurrah for Andrew Lansley.!
At last some interest, from Westminster, in this outrageous down-grading of the NHS in Cornwall.
'Your Local NHS'? Don't make me laugh!
But will Mr Lansley now raise this issue formally in Parliament? At PMQ's maybe?
Will Mr Lansley commit the Conservative Party, if elected, to reverse this decision and prevent the next stage of the rape of RCH Treliske.
Is he aware that 'they' plan to move Gynaecology and Head & Neck Surgery out of the county, and into Devon, too?
These transfers of our services are building a nice little empire for the new head of the NHS in Devon - former head of the NHS in Cornwall - Ann James. Coincidence?
By the way, Mr Lansley, if you are serious about slashing NHS costs, you can do it at a stroke by getting rid of all the NHS quangos that New Labour has spawned.
Start with the SWSHA and the PCN. Then have a look at the NHS Trusts.
Hand back the reins to the people who know what they are doing - the Medical Profession.
This would also restore some level of democracy to the NHS - one of the Conservatives stated ambitions.”
by John, St Tudy
Monday, November 02 2009, 5:26PM
“As a cancer patient at Treliske, I can have nothing but praise for all the work they do at the SunRise Centre. It is bad enough having to drive down to Treliske once every 3 weeks for a session of chemotherapy,that can last from anything between 4 to 6 hours on a drip. To do the journey to Derriford would be time wise much longer. Add this to a 4 to 6 hours having treatment and then been driven back, would fill me with horror. How much worse will it be for someone living in the far West of Cornwall. It is not that trains run every half hour to Plymouth. Even if they did it would still mean a taxi ride out to Derriford. I would suggest those who make these decisions should consult those who are at the sharp end of being treat for cancer. John”
by alan, Cornwall
Monday, November 02 2009, 4:26PM
“Clear Evidence ????
If there was clear evidence they would publish it but all they say is " Jam Tomorrow" .
These NHS spokeman are so patronising - they are living in the past when you just told patients to be quiet and do what they are told..
Things would be different if the decisions were made by people who understand what it is like to be elderly, desperately ill, living on an old age pension in a village without public transport.
What will it take to make them listen to those of us who pay their salaries and show a little humility.
They should be ashamed of themselves.”
by B S Gillott, Helston
Monday, November 02 2009, 3:14PM
“We should be looking at increasing cancer care in Cornwall not reducing it. Years ago I had to travel to London for cancer treatment. It was very difficult. Recently a friend of mine underwent treatment at Treliske. This was on going for almost a year. most times he and his wife, would be at the unit for seven or more hours, then faced with a drive home. Imagine what that would be like if they had to drive to Plymouth. Even worse for people out on the Lizard or land's End. It is difficult to allow for the effect of such a long journey for desparate treatment. For one not on benefits it is also extremely costly and can lead to penury at the end.”
by Reg, Pt
Monday, November 02 2009, 11:21AM
“I would agree that it is a good idea had the review taken place long before the imminent decision now facing the authorities and the community. The PCT and RCHT are wrong to say it is the correct decision - on what grounds have they based this decision? Certyainly NOT the patients concerns. One-size-fits-all cannot work in the South West - this is mertely an exercise in reducing their budget deficit and I challenge them to explain otherwise.”
by Man in the street, Hayle
Monday, November 02 2009, 10:18AM
“Excellent idea an independent review is long overdue. Especially as the Dept of Health has admitted that it has yet to establish if these new Centres of Excellence do in fact improve patient outcomes.
Seems unbelieveable that the NHS hasn't done this already yet is continuing with their plans to transfer the treatment out of Cornwall.
In any case it is statistically impossible to improve on the RCHT result s, given that in their last full year their mortality rate for UGI operations was zero percent . This has to compared to Derrifords figure which exceeded 5%.
ifgto introduce”