Cancer Unit to close

9.00.00am GMT Mon 9th Feb 2009

Exeter's Liberal Democrat PPC Graham Oakes has described the decision of the Peninsula Primary Care Trusts to close the gastric and oesophageal cancer services unit at the RD&E and switch it to Plymouth as "plain wrong."

An independent clinical review of gastric and oesophageal cancer services across Devon and Cornwall has been published today and recommended moving the service from the RD&E to Plymouth.

Whilst the RD&E NHS Foundation Trust has welcomed the decision, Graham Oakes, a Nurse, condemned it. "Whilst this move may save money it means people in Devon will have to travel further for this vital service and, more importantly, it puts at risk the continuation of Minimally Invasive Oesophagectomy surgery, a technique that has earned European recognition, as the consultants have not yet agreed to move to Plymouth".

"The RD&E NHS Foundation Trust should be supporting the Exeter Oesophago-Gastric Cancer Centre team, rather than being bullied into this change by Plymouth. We are lucky to have highly skilled doctors and Nurses working at our local hospital and the risk of breaking up this team is sheer folly."

"It appears our local MP, a health Minister is either backing this move or has very little influence over important health matters in his constituency."