Treatment for three types of cancer is being transferred from the Royal Cornwall Hospital as well as the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital to Plymouth.

The move to Derriford Hospital will mean that some patients will have to travel hundreds of miles.

The Primary Care Trust says the move is in response to national guidance on improving cancer treatment outcomes.

'Difficulty travelling'

Richard Williams, who lives in Cornwall, is recovering after successful surgery for suspected throat cancer.

He said visits from friends and family were vital to his recovery.

"It's a hell of way to travel," said Mr Williams.

"Most of the people who popped in to see me off the street wouldn't have been able to, my relatives would have had difficulty travelling up."

But since the start of this month patients from Cornwall suffering from upper gastro-intestinal cancers are having to travel to Derriford in Plymouth for surgery.

"Partly that's determined by centres of excellence or making sure that surgical teams operate on enough patients per year to really keep all of their very valuable skills up to date," said Ann James, chief executive of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust.

The PCT is also considering transferring head and neck cancer and complex gynaecological cancer services.

But patient groups say they are unhappy there has been no public consultation.

"How can we decide if we're not being given facts and figures so we can convince ourselves," said Rose Woodward from the Cancer Patient and Carers Group.