Plans put forth by London Cancer – an NHS organisation representing trusts in north London and west Essex - to axe some specialist surgeries at hospitals, and for two London units to perform the procedures instead, have been criticised by the ProActive Prostate Cancer Self-help group.

The London Cancer plans which are being opposed by the support group for cancer patients include the proposal to hand over responsibility for bladder and prostate surgery to Euston’s University College London Hospital; with kidney surgery to be delivered by either Barts Health NHS Trust or The Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead.

In defense of its proposal, London Cancer has been asserting that there would be a likely reduction in death rates if bladder, prostate and kidney surgeries are performed by expert teams at dedicated sites, instead of spreading out these surgeries at hospitals across the region.

However, expressing the opinion that London Cancer’s proposals are apparently being pushed through without proper consultation, campaigners from the ProActive Prostate Cancer Self-help group have voiced apprehensions that the proposed measures will lead to reduced patient choice.

Criticising London Cancer’s plans, ProActive John Woods said: “This proposal will remove all options of patient choice from over two million people and will cause difficulties of travel for patients and relatives from the rural parts of Essex and Hertfordshire.”