Protest over cancer surgery move

Campaigners have got protested against programs to travel some specializer malignant neoplastic disease treatment services out of Cornwall.

The Cornwall Primary Care Trust (PCT) desires to travel upper gastro-intestinal surgery from the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro to Plymouth.

Demonstrators at County Hallway in Truro said they were concerned how the programs would impact patients and families.

The percentage said it was delaying the plans' execution to let more than clip to discourse the proposals with the public.

Having malignant neoplastic disease is annihilating enough

Maggie Easterbrook, malignant neoplastic disease patient

Health heads had said the planned move was in response to national counsel on improving malignant neoplastic disease treatment results and making usage of specializer malignant neoplastic disease centres, such as as the 1 at Plymouth's Derriford Hospital.

But protestors said that if surgery was transferred elsewhere, it could intend some patients and relations having to go 100s of miles.

Cancer patient Maggie Easterbrook said: "If you have got to go all the manner there for treatment, your household can't just see and come up back in a day.

"You're isolated and having malignant neoplastic disease is annihilating enough."

The Cancer Patient and Carers Group added that the operating surgeons who would transport out processes would be Cornwall-based. They would go to Plymouth to operate, but then most likely caput back to Cornwall immediately afterwards, raising concerns about post-operative care and observation.

Evidence examined

PCT head executive director Ann Jesse James said the trust would be discussing the proposals with the public, but added that they could still travel ahead.

She said: "I believe what's important at this phase is that the public have got all of the facts, and that they're presented in a very aim way, but also that we also take on the concerns from people.

"Quite often their concerns, understandably, are about travelling and being away from their loved 1s when they are having their surgery.

"Now we may necessitate to make a small spot more to guarantee they acquire the surgery they need, but that doesn't necessarily intend that the grounds for centralising services is wrong."

The primary attention trust is also considering transferring caput and cervix malignant neoplastic disease and complex gynaecological malignant neoplastic disease services.