4:40pm Wednesday 10th March 2010
By James Connell
A CANCER survivor from Droitwich is concerned about the future of head and neck cancer surgery after he learned of cuts to hospital beds in Gloucestershire, the preferred home of the service.
Paul Crawford was concerned when he learned of plans to close 150-200 beds at Gloucestershire hospitals, the preferred base of head and neck cancer surgery.
Mr Crawford, aged 68, of Highfield Close, Droitwich, said the cuts provided further evidence that head and neck surgery should remain at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester, which entered a rival bid to host the service.
He said: “If they want to get shot of 200 beds how can they honestly say they can cope with head and neck cancer surgery? Worcestershire hospitals are run far better.”
The first phase will see 95 beds go at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital from April 1. The trust, which runs both Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General, said it has to save between £27 million and £30 million in the 2010/11 financial year.
Chief executive Dr Frank Harsent said the trust had “no choice” but to make the savings. Members of Gloucestershire County Council reacted angrily to the proposals and Gloucestershire Conservatives have announced a package of measures to fight the plan.
A panel of experts has recommended that the surgery be based at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in Gloucester but no formal decision has yet been taken.
Even if the decision goes against Worcestershire, bosses at NHS Worcestershire, which holds the purse strings locally, have offered hope that the service may be able to continue.
A draft cancer strategy was launched at a meeting of the NHS Worcestershire board in January which may allow the creation of an extended cancer unit, saving vital services from being transferred out of the county.
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