13/05/08: CPCA’s response to Suffolk NHS Primary Care Trust
Re: Proposals to move of Head & Neck Cancer services to Norwich

The attempt to move surgery for Head & Neck Cancer to Norwich is, I feel, only because Norwich hospital is suffering from the disastrous Private Finance Initiative debt. The move will be extremely detrimental to those patients with cancer who will be under great stress because of their illness and will be put under further stress by having to travel a round trip of over 100 miles.
David Dyer of Ipswich Hospital Cancer Services User Group has covered the reasons very well in his press release; I agree with every part of it.

Patients and family are not mutually exclusive; it is very important to someone who has just had a serious operation for family to be near and to give encouragement and support in the recovery phase. Having 100 miles to travel (which will take a full day) and the expense they will incur will prohibit many families from visiting their loved one at a very crucial time. A family member holding ones hand at a time like this is the best aid to recovery, better than all the drugs.

This proposal shows no empathy, by the proposers, for the patients who have this distressing illness.

Suffolk Primary Care Trust (i.e. Carol Taylor-Brown, SPCT’s CEO - who is also chair of Anglia Cancer Network) are pushing this proposal arguing they have to follow guide-lines; guide-lines are exactly what it says - guide-lines - they are not carved in stone and as in many other walks of life should be and are tempered by common sense, local conditions and need, none of which is evident in this proposal.

The need is for these cancer services to remain at Ipswich Hospital. It is time for those making the decisions for this Patient Led NHS to start listening to the patients.

Barry Farr, Hon. Chairman.