Meeting over cancer services move

Protesters are concerned about the effect on services

Cornwall's health managers will meet a group of locals MPs to discuss proposals to move specialist cancer services out of the county.

Opponents want services improved at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro rather than centralised in Plymouth.

Campaigners are worried about the distances patients will have to travel.

Four of Cornwall's MPs will meet the chief executive of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust and the chairman to discuss the plans.

Rare tumours

Surgery for upper gastro-intestinal cancer services is currently carried out at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.

But Cornwall's Primary Care Trust is proposing a move to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

Health chiefs said making use of specialist cancer centres such as Derriford for rare tumours which required complex operations would increase the life expectancy of patients.

But protesters said if surgery was transferred elsewhere, it could mean some patients and relatives would have to travel hundreds of miles.

The possibility of moving treatment for head and neck cancer and some complex gynaecological conditions to Plymouth will be discussed at a later date.

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