CAMPAIGNERS see this month as crucial in their fight for all cancer services to be under one roof at the Oxford Cancer Centre.

When the centre opened at the Churchill Hospital, Headington, in 2009, it was planned that head and neck cancer services would move in to the building in 2010.

But in August – one year after the intended move – directors said they had been forced to reconsider because of “financial constraints”.

Head and neck cancer services are currently split across the main JR building and the West Wing, with just oncology services located at the Churchill.

Three options are now on the table for the future of the cancer’s services, including moving all services to the Churchill, adding a new outpatients service to the West Wing at the John Radcliffe, and a split site model with outpatient services at the Churchill and inpatient surgery continuing at the JR.

The first option will cost about £650,000 to implement. The second two would cost more than £1m.

As part of a public consultation, which runs until February 24, patients and members of Heads2Gether, a head and neck cancer support group, met Oxford University Hospitals Trust managers.

Paul McGough, from Thame, was treated for a nasopharyngeal cancer in 2004 and spent several weeks in and out of the John Radcliffe. He is now in remission.

The Heads2Gether patient representative said: “The meeting was reasonably constructive and helpful.

“The solution should be an excellent solution – Option A, flexible and sustainable – what staff and patients want. We, the staff and patients, do not want a second best solution.”

The head and neck cancer service was originally located at the Radcliffe Infirmary, in Woodstock Road.

But when the infirmary shut in 2007, it was planned that the service should be relocated to the Churchill hospital site.

According to the OUH, delays to the building programme at the Churchill meant the service moved to the John Radcliffe in 2007 as a temporary measure.

The trust said since then it had faced additional financial pressures which were unknown when the original move had been planned.

In a letter to Heads2Gether, trust chief executive Sir Jonathan Michael said the move would incur additional direct costs of more than £1.2m a year to provide the extra rotas of doctors and nurses needed.

He added: “In addition to this there will be the costs of the additional theatre and critical care capacity.

“This is a significant additional annual cost and the trust has to justify any investment in services in the context of overall services run for patients.”

The consultation will run until February 24. The trust said it welcomed comments which will help inform its decision.

To have your say, go to: ouh.nhs.uk/get-involved/public-involvement.aspx#headandneck

OPTIONS

Option A – Move all head and neck cancer inpatient and outpatient services to the Churchill Hospital.

Option B – Create an integrated Head and Neck inpatient and outpatient service in the new West Wing at the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Option C – Operate a split site system with outpatient services at the Churchill Hospital and inpatient surgery continuing at the JR.