Union maintains claim of threat to cancer service

NHS CHIEFS SAY NO DECISION TAKEN ON COUNSELLING FOR PATIENTS

- By GEORGE PALMER-SOADY

A UNION claims a vital service that supports more than 500 cancer patients in the East Midlands could close - but the NHS says this isn’t the case.

The East Midlands Cancer Alliance Centre for Psychosocial Health has been earmarked for closure in September, according to Unite the Union.

The service offers mental health support to more than 500 cancer patients each year.

The integrated care boards (ICBs) for all counties in the East Midlands have said no decision has been taken on the future of the service.

Aspokesperson said: “No decision has been taken to close the East Midlands Centre for Psychosocial Health. To suggest otherwise is misleading and unhelpful to patients, who should continue to visit the service for support as they ordinarily would”