Cancer roadshows across Merseyside and Cheshire as hospital consultation nears end

Posted 2nd October 2014

People across Merseyside and Cheshire can find out more and have their say on major proposals for transforming the region’s cancer services between now and 19th October at a series of roadshows including Liverpool city centre tomorrow, Chester on Saturday, local hospitals throughout the area and Ellesmere Port and Kirkby next week.

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, which provides the region’s specialist cancer service and also carries out groundbreaking research and clinical trials, is consulting the public on its proposals for a £118m investment in expanding and improving care.

It wants to develop a new flagship cancer hospital next to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and the University of Liverpool. Experts say this would bring services closer to the majority of people, provide radiotherapy on three sites rather than two, enhance scope for research and further improve care for the most seriously unwell and complex patients as, unlike now, there would be on-site access to intensive care and other key specialties.

The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre would retain its sites at Wirral and Aintree, as well as the chemotherapy and outpatient clinics it runs across the region. Inpatient beds, the Teenage & Young Adult Unit and some more complex care would move from Wirral to the new site where they would have on-site access to other specialties that are important in providing the best care for patients with other health conditions as well as cancer. Wirral would remain a busy and vibrant outpatient site and it’s expected it could continue caring for around 90 per cent of patient attendances from Wirral and West Cheshire.

As part of the Transforming Cancer Care consultation, information roadshows are taking place right across the region so people can find out more and give their views by completing the consultation questionnaire. The final wave of roadshows takes in Paradise Street in Liverpool city centre tomorrow (3rd October), Chester Pride on Saturday (4th October), Little Sutton Library in Ellesmere Port (9th October) and Kirkby shopping centre (10th October).

Roadshows are also taking place in hospitals across Merseyside and Cheshire, including Southport & Formby, Arrowe Park, St Helen’s, Whiston, Warrington, Halton, Royal Liverpool, Broadgreen / Liverpool Heart & Chest, Liverpool Women’s, and the Countess of Chester. The full list of events is available here.

The roadshow events are totally free and open to anyone to attend. There is no need to book. The consultation team will be on hand to answer any queries and provide information and copies of the consultation document and questionnaire. People have until 19th October to submit their views by completing the questionnaire which is available at www.transformingcancercaremc.nhs.uk or by calling 0151 296 7068.

Dr Peter Kirkbride, Medical Director of The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, said: “Merseyside and Cheshire has one of the highest cancer rates nationally and it’s the biggest single cause of death here so it’s something that will affect most of us, either as a patient or a relative, at some time in our lives.

“We provide excellent services and have a strong research programme but believe our proposals would make them even better. It’s really important, though, that we hear what local people think so you can help us make the right decisions. We want to hear your views so please do get involved and have your say by completing the consultation questionnaire.”

The Transforming Cancer Care public consultation launched on Monday 28th July and ends on Sunday 19th October 2014. Full details of the proposals, a short film and the consultation documents and questionnaire are available at www.transformingcancercaremc.nhs.uk. People can contact the Consultation Team on 0151 296 7068 or engagement@cmcsu.nhs.uk.

The remaining public roadshows are:
• Paradise Street, Liverpool city centre, all day – Friday 3rd October
• Chester Pride, 11am-5pm – Saturday 4th October
• The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Wirral, 12pm-2pm – Tuesday 7th October
• Arrowe Park Hospital, 12pm-2pm – Thursday 9th October
• Little Sutton Library, Ellesmere Port, 2pm-4pm – Thursday 9th October
• Kirkby shopping centre, 10am-2pm – Friday 10th October
• Halton Hospital, 10am-12pm – Monday 13th October
• The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre in Wirral, 12pm-2pm – Monday 13th October
• Warrington Hospital, 2pm-4.30pm – Monday 13th October
• Southport & Formby Hospital, 2pm-4.30pm – Tuesday 14th October
• Warrington Healthwatch AGM, 2pm-4pm – Tuesday 14th October
• St Helen’s Hospital, 10am-12.30pm – Wednesday 15th October
• Whiston Hospital, 2pm-4.30pm – Wednesday 15th October
• Countess of Chester Hospital, 10am-12.30pm – Thursday 16th October