• 12/22/2007
  • Torquay, England
  • staff
  • www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk

Life saving surgery for people with cancer of the head and neck is to move from Torbay Hospital to Exeter, it has been revealed. Around 50 people a year are currently treated at Torbay Hospital for the disease, Torbay Council’s Stronger Communities Scrutiny Board heard before giving the decision their blessing.

Under the plans being brought in patients will still have initial consultancy and follow up appointments at the Shiphay site, but the actual operation will take place at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

The scrutiny board heard there had been ‘widespread professional debate’ about the changes, along with future plans to have either Plymouth or Exeter as the one main centre for treatment.

Guidelines say head and neck cancer centre services should be concentrated in centres serving one million people and at least 100 newly-diagnosed cases a year.