Consultation on cancer care enters it final week
Posted 13th October 2014
Cancer specialists are reminding people across Merseyside and Cheshire that there are just a few days remaining in a public consultation on proposals for what they say is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the region’s cancer care.
Cancer specialists are reminding people across Merseyside and Cheshire that there are just a few days remaining in a public consultation on proposals for what they say is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the region’s cancer care.
The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, which provides the specialist cancer service for Merseyside and Cheshire as well as carrying out groundbreaking research and clinical trials, wants to develop a new cancer hospital next to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and the University of Liverpool.
It launched a three-month public consultation on the proposals in July. The consultation ends this Sunday (19th September 2014) and is asking people to give their views via a questionnaire.
Experts say a new cancer hospital in Liverpool 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.
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. People can complete the consultation questionnaire at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Transforming_cancer_care, on paper (at the end of the consultation document), or over the phone by calling 0151 296 7068 during office hours.
Full details of the proposals, a short film, the consultation documents and the questionnaire are also available at www.transformingcancercaremc.nhs.uk. People can contact the Consultation Team on 0151 296 7068 or engagement@cmcsu.nhs.uk.
