NHS bosses encourage public to have say on delivery of cancer treatments in Ayrshire
A public consultation is available until 19 May to gauge how people feel about changes made during the pandemic.
NHS Ayrshire and Arran bosses are encouraging people in the region to have their say on the way anti-cancer therapy is delivered.
A public consultation on changes that were made during the pandemic is underway until Friday 19 May, with an online event being held on Wednesday 10 May for those who didn’t make it to in-person events.
An in-person event in Kilmarnock is taking place next month with a time and place still to be confirmed.
During the pandemic, systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) was changed to keep patients safe.
Part of this was to move SACT treatments such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy out of University Hospital Ayr completely.
They moved case chemotherapy to a bespoke unit at the Ailsa Campus, Ayr and had one inpatient cancer ward at University Hospital Crosshouse.
Now those on the engagement team at NHSAAA say they’ve had positive responses to the changes but want a wider knowledge of just how people in the area feel.
The consultation will inform bosses whether or not to keep the changes they implemented during the pandemic.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran Director of Acute Services Joanne Edwards said:“People living in Ayrshire and Arran have the chance to join the conversation on Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy, which includes types of treatment like chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
“You can get involved by reading the information and filling out the online survey, or you can access paper versions in community venues or request copies if you prefer.
“As our consultation summary document explains, to keep our patients and staff as safe as possible, changes were made rapidly to the local SACT service during 2020 with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
“When these changes were implemented our staff and cancer patients were kept informed and involved. As the current delivery model has been regarded so positively, both by those in treatment as well as the teams delivering their care, there are now proposals to keep these changes.”
“I’d urge everyone to read the information we have provided about how cancer treatments are being delivered in Ayrshire at the moment. Anyone who has feedback or views about the changes can participate in the survey before Friday 19 May.”
Tickets to the web event on May 10 are available online.