Cancer unit campaign opposed

9:05am Wednesday 10th October 2007

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A CAMPAIGN for a radiotherapy unit at Kidderminster Hospital has run into opposition from the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

The trust claims councillor Nigel Knowles's campaign could scupper efforts to secure the service for cancer patients in Worcestershire.

Janet Marie Clark, spokeswoman for the trust, said: "To pre-empt any decision by looking at a particular site is not helpful to our campaign."

More than 5,500 signatures have been collected by Mr Knowles in support of choosing Kidderminster Hospital as the site for the new unit.

Mr Knowles, Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for Wyre Forest, said: "There is a real need for a radiotherapy unit at Kidderminster Hospital.

"There seems to be something of a black hole in this northern part of Worcestershire, with people having to travel to Wolverhampton, Coventry or Birmingham.

"They are reliant on family and friends to take them for treatment, which can take place three or four times a week, for a period of six weeks."

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is currently working with the 3 Counties Cancer Network of patients to decide where the new satellite service should be situated.

It could be in Worcestershire, Herefordshire or Gloucestershire, where the existing service in Cheltenham might be expanded.