Gwent could lose out in cancer centre contest

The multi-million pound cost of developing the unit may yet swing the project Gwent's way, but based on criteria such as access to treatment, population characteristics, site development, and acceptability to staff and stakeholders, Merthyr Tydfil won out.

A satellite unit is part of a proposal to modernise and extend capacity for non-surgical cancer treatments across south east Wales.

It involves increasing to seven the number of linear accelerators, or linacs - which deliver the radiotherapy - at the existing Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff, but a satellite unit with two linacs is also included.

Gwent health bosses put forward the proposed site of a new Specialist and Critical Care Centre at Llanfrechfa Grange Hospital near Cwmbran as a potential venue for a satellite unit. Prince of Wales Hospital was the only other candidate assessed, though Llandough Hospital could come into the equation if neither of these were considered suitable.

Patient and staff representatives from both the Gwent and Merthyr catchment areas met to assess the two sites against the criteria mentioned above. Though the outcome was close, the South East Wales Cancer Network will now be asked to adopt the Prince of Wales Hospital site as the preferred option for a satellite radiotherapy unit, when its board meets in December.

Cost was not a factor considered during the assessment, and if the Prince of Wales Hospital site is found to be the more expensive option, Gwent may come back into the running.

Gwent Community Health Council's public involvement officer David Kenny, in a report to CHC members, said a satellite unit outside Cardiff will benefit cancer patients across south east Wales as a whole, but "a favoured location in Merthyr would not be the best option for the majority of the population of Gwent and, to that extent, the outcome was disappointing."

There may also have to be public consultation on the proposal.