A SHAKE-UP of cancer services in Essex could threaten the future of the Southend cancer centre, MPs fear.
Even though there are no current plans to close the unit at Southend Hospital, they have launched a campaign to save it in the face of major changes proposed elsewhere.
Rochford and Southend East MP James Duddridge, Southend West MP David Amess, Castle Point MP Bob Spink and Rayleigh MP Mark Francois are distributing posters and petitions in an effort to ensure the centre stays where it is.
They hope to persuade the Essex Strategic Health Authority not to merge the two cancer networks that currently serve north and south Essex.
Clinicians have already expressed their concerns that merging the excellent cancer network in south Essex with its struggling counterpart in the north could force the service to weaken overall.
The MPs are hoping to meet to discuss the plans at the cancer centre later this month. In early March, they will hand in the petition to Parliament before the formal consultation ends on Monday, March 13.
Published Thursday, February 9, 2006
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