Patients face travel despite cancer unit plans
2:20pm Sunday 20th July 2008
WORCESTER will find out whether it will get a new satellite radiotherapy unit within weeks but patients with complex cancer needs will still have to travel for treatment.
Health chiefs have to decide whether to expand Gloucestershire oncology centre in Cheltenham or build satellite units in Worcester or Hereford.
The decision will ultimately be taken the primary care trusts, including Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, which commissions services within the Three Counties Cancer Network.
If a satellite unit is built in Worcester it would contain two linear accelerators to treat cancers which are housed in a high density bunker in order to protect staff and the public from radiation produced by the machines.
But even if a new centre is built at Worcester, between 20 and 30 per cent of patients with complex needs will have to go to the cancer centre in Cheltenham, according to a PCT report.
However plans may include temporary accommodation to reduce the pressures of travel on radiotherapy patients.
An update on an options appraisal to decide the best location for any new accelerators was given at a meeting of the Worcestershire Primary Care Trust board at County Hall on Wednesday.
At the meeting Paul Tuthill, a Malvern Hills district councillor, criticised the use of the term “three counties cancer network” because the network included south Worcestershire but left out the north of the county (which is outside the network’s remit).
He said: “It should be called the ‘two and one third cancer network’.”
Simon Hairsnape, director of delivery for the PCT, said “It doesn’t quite do what it says on the tin” but added that he would use any opportunity to clarify the situation to the public and make the network seem “more meaningful” to patients.
“We want radiotherapy based in Worcestershire.”
In June a paper was circulated to the Network’s Commissioning Group about the plans.
The decision on the preferred option is expected this month.
The final decision is expected to take place in December at a meeting of the Three Counties Cancer Network’s Board and the PCT boards.
The National Radiotherapy Advisory Group said last year that radiotherapy capacity had fallen behind rising need.
The position is also expected to worsen as cancer incidence increases because of a rising population.