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Sandwell cancer patients could face trips to Birmingham

Cancer patients in a Black Country borough could have to make trips to Birmingham for appointments, with a hospital facing the prospect of losing its oncology services.

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Sandwell General Hospital, where oncologists from Queen Elizabeth Hospital have been working

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham is planning to withdraw its oncologists which have been allowed to work at Sandwell General Hospital at the end of September.

Health chiefs in Sandwell said they were continuing to work with NHS England and commissioners to find a solution but have admitted they could lose the service, which would leave patients with tumours having to take longer journeys to see a specialist.

The hospital would still retain other cancer services such as chemotherapy.

Dr Roger Stedman, medical director at the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said: “Oncology services are an important part of local cancer services provision.

"NHS England and other commissioners continue to support services operating from our sites as part of the wider cancer team.

"We continue to work with all involved to ensure that that is what happens.”

Chief executive of the trust, Toby Lewis, admitted the uncertainty was concerning. It comes as cancer referrals to Sandwell Hospital have shot up in recent months.

In a report to board members, he said: "Looking forward there are risks to future delivery, associated with the perceived. uncertainty over solid tumour oncology service provision, and changed national guidance on referrals and on diagnostic modalities.

"We have seen a surging rise in referrals for cancer in recent months associated with revised national guidance in general practice."

Brian Childs, from Upper G.I. Blues, a charity which supports cancer patients in the West Midlands, who is a cancer sufferer himself, said: "Keeping oncology services is essential. I hate to think what would happen if these patients have got to travel to Queen Elizabeth or New Cross for oncology on top of what they are already going through.

"This at a time when the patient is at their lowest ebb, meaning extra travel time and extra travel cost."

"It's one extra thing they don't need to worry about and shouldn't have to worry about.

"They need to have these services. What we really need is an oncologist employed directly by Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals."

A spokeswoman for NHS Improvement, the national body which oversees trusts, added: "It is true that there has been some uncertainty around the service level agreement for oncology services between Sandwell and West Birmingham and University Hospitals Birmingham. However, NHS Improvement is working closely with both trusts to ensure that high quality services continue to be provided locally to patients across Sandwell and West Birmingham. We are also developing a plan to ensure that services can be improved into the future."