The Beatson Oncology Centre in Glasgow

The three consultants were reported to be quitting the Glasgow centre in a row over a lack of funding.

North Glasgow NHS Trust, which runs the Beatson Centre, said it was in the process of replacing the trio.

It claimed that funding was one of a number of issues which it had addressed with clinicians in recent months.

The trust also expressed surprise at comments made in a newspaper by one consultant, Professor Ann Barrett, who said that managers were ignoring the view of clinicians.

One concern was that there were too few staff at outlying cancer clinics established by teams from the oncology centre in the west of Scotland.

'Discussions'

Human resources director Alan Boyter said that in recent months talks had been held with clinicians over areas of concern like staffing levels and accommodation.

"We are surprised that Prof Barrett is suggesting that there are areas that have not been raised and we will, of course, be discussing these with her," he said.

Ms Deacon said she was concerned by the criticisms which had been made regarding some of the local decision-making processes.

"I am concerned to ensure that one of our major cancer centres is both run and managed effectively," she said.

Glasgow remains the cancer capital of Europe - it should be leading the way in cancer treatment, not lagging far behind the rest of the country as it so obviously is

Nicola Sturgeon

"A report has been requested from the management of the local trust and I have asked the chief executive of NHS Scotland to ensure that that report is completed as a matter of urgency."

Speaking earlier on BBC Radio Scotland, Ms Deacon conceded that more needed to be done to improve cancer care in the west of Scotland.

However, she said additional funds were being made available and that the issue was regarded as a priority.

More than half of the �10.7m worth of investment detailed on Tuesday during a visit to Edinburgh's Western General Hospital will be spent in the west of Scotland.

Ms Deacon said the money, which was allocated in Chancellor Gordon Brown's most recent Budget, would allow at least 28 specialist cancer doctors and 38 trained nurses to be recruited.

Cancer professionals

The extra posts, which also include an additional 12 radiographers and 50 support staff, pharmacists and technicians, are due to be filled during the coming year.

Ms Deacon said: "We have listened to cancer professionals and patients and we are acting on their advice.

"We will have more staff where they are needed most, the most significant step yet in ending the postcode lottery of cancer care."

Earlier this year the executive announced �40m of additional funding over three years and stressed that cancer specialists, rather than politicians, would decide where the money was spent.

Extra funds are expected to be spent on recruitment

Scottish National Party health spokeswoman Nicola Sturgeon demanded an inquiry into management at North Glasgow NHS Trust and the allocation of resources to cancer services in Glasgow.

Ms Sturgeon said: "This staffing crisis at the Beatson is alarming.

"Glasgow remains the cancer capital of Europe - it should be leading the way in cancer treatment, not lagging far behind the rest of the country as it so obviously is."

Ms Sturgeon said the situation had reached "crisis point" and she described the �10m of extra funding as "a drop in the ocean given the scale of the problem in Scotland".

MSP Ben Wallace, the Scottish Tories' deputy health spokesman, said the resignations were "a major setback for the executive and its cancer strategy".

He said: "These resignations add weight to the view that Susan Deacon lacks the ability to deal effectively with her own 'priorities' within our health service."