Future of 'backbone' mental health care for cancer unclear

VITAL SERVICE 'UNDER EVALUATION' AS NHS DENIES CLOSURE AMID UNCERTAINTY

- By GEORGE PALMER-SOADY

A VITAL service that supports more than 500 cancer patients in the East Midlands is "under evaluation", the NHS says.

In June, the NHS denied claims that the East Midlands Cancer Alliance Centre for Psychosocial Health was earmarked for closure - despite prominent unions and campaign groups suggesting otherwise.

The centre provides vital therapy and mental health support services for cancer patients all over the region, and has been described as "the best example" of its kind in the country.

But the integrated care board (ICBs) for all counties in the East Midlands have now said the centre is under evaluation which it claims is "standard practice" to ensure best value for money.

Thew confirmation comes just over a month after the NHS denied the centre was closing after Unite the Union claimed it was on the cards and would result in 15 clinical psychologist jobs being lost.

Campaigners and unions say the centre's future remains uncertain for service users and staff.

In a statement, a spokesperson for all ICBs said: "It is standard practice for NHS commissioners to review services regularly for clinical effectiveness and to ensure they are providing value for money.