A NEW cancer treatment hub could be set up at Warrington Hospital.

Warrington, Halton, St Helens and Knowsley NHS clinical commissioning groups are currently working with the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre to develop plans for a multidisciplinary outpatients hub for non-surgical cancer treatment, care and support.

The treatment centre would be based at one of Warrington Hospital, Halton Hospital, St Helens Hospital and Whiston Hospital.

Proposals for the hub have been mooted in response to concerns raised by doctors, with cancer patients currently being sent to one of those four sites after being diagnosed in order to be seen by a single consultant working alone.

Plans aim to 'improve the consistency of non-surgical cancer care in the area', including treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Dr Sheena Khanduri, medical director at the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, said: "More and more, we are able to offer our patients access to new treatments or clinical trials for new drugs.

"However, there isn't always consistency in how far a patient may have to travel for those treatments or what they are offered.

"We are in a fortunate position where cancer survival rates have doubled in the past 40 years.

"This means more people than ever are being supported to live well with cancer, so it is absolutely crucial that we help them in the best way possible - supported by a range of services and professionals to ensure the highest quality of care."

The CCGs are currently seeking feedback on the plans, which they hope will 'provide a smoother patient journey with better clinical outcomes'.

Dianne Johnson, senior officer for the transforming cancer care programme, added: "We are at the formative stages of our discussions around specialist, non-surgical cancer care for people in Halton, Knowsley, St Helens and Warrington.

"Whilst we are lucky to have some excellent specialist cancer care services, they are not always provided in the best way possible for our patients.

"At the moment, when someone is diagnosed with cancer they could be asked to go to one of four hospital sites locally to see a specialist consultant who will probably work alone and where there could be variation in access to treatments, clinical trials and research.

"We know we can do things differently and improve the situation for our local people.

"To do this, we need to have a discussion with those that support our cancer services and those who use them.

"We want local people to help us shape the service, and that is why we are involving people now - so that together we can develop the options to take out to public consultation in the future."