Patients and families have spoken out against the potential closure of the specialist cancer ward at the Princess Royal University Hospital.

Last week News Shopper reported the pending closure of the Chartwell Unit to inpatients, a decision which has now been ‘paused’ while further discussions take place.

Under the original plans cancer patients would be moved to other wards at PRUH dependent on the type of cancer they have.

Blood cancer patients would be moved to Kings College Hospital in Denmark Hill for their primary care, 12 miles away from PRUH.

Michael Killeen, 66, Gravel Road, Bromley, and his wife Ellen were both diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2015 and 2012 and were treated on the Chartwell Unit.

Mr. Killeen said: “This is much, much more than just a clinical department, the Chartwell is a jewel in PRUH’s crown.

“When you go you’re extremely vulnerable and fearful and immediately you know you’re in the right place.

“The staff are more than competent, I expected it to be a very gloomy place but it’s actually a cheery place.”

News Shopper:

Blood cancer patients will move to Kings College Hospital if the Chartwell unit closes

Mr. Killeen expressed surprise that the Chartwell is facing cuts as it performs highly compared to other wards at PRUH, which received a ‘requires improvement’ rating in its last CQC inspection in September 2015.

He said: “It’s very easy to knock the NHS, but I will be the first to jump to its defense, I’ve had excellent care at Kings before.

“What surprised me, although it shouldn’t, is that there are other areas which are not coming up to scratch.

“It is ironic and unbelievably bad management that the one department that is performing well and is in the top areas nationally - it is up there with the best - that is the area that might close.

“Once it is gone we will never get it back, it’s a simple as that.”

News Shopper:

Michael Killeen was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in 2015

Mr. Killeen spent some time being treated for other illnesses on general wards while fighting cancer.

He is concerned that non-specialist wards are not equipped to cope with cancer patients.

He said: “Cancer is not a more important disease however it is a unique disease, it affects so many people and the Chartwell is an oasis of peace and calm.

“Cancer treatment affects people in different ways, me and my wife had it were you don’t really want to eat and you can’t taste much but you know you have to eat, and you might want any absurd thing which you will not get on the hospital menu.

"In the Chartwell there is a room where people can store their own food and my wife wanted lots of ice-lollies, so I would go to buy them and keep them there.

“So if the only thing you can eat is ice-lollies at least you can do that, there is no chance of that on a general medical ward, it’s not designed to give that level of care.”

Sandra Atkinson's brother stayed on the Chartwell Unit as an inpatient for a month before his death in March 2015 which allowed him private moments with his family.

Mrs. Atkinson, 65, Sidcup, Kent, said: “If he had to stay on a four bed ward he would have been more anxious, you can hear the doctors speaking to somebody else, you’re probably restricted to a couple of visitors.

“It helped that he could have really quiet moments and his wife could come in after work and help him to wash and if you’re sharing with other people you just can’t do that.

“I think he wouldn’t have felt able to express some of the things he expressed.”

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Inpatients continue to be treated at the Chartwell unit while talks are ongoing and outpatient care is unaffected.