The battle to save a specialist cancer ward at Princess Royal University Hospital has been won by health campaigners.

The Chartwell Cancer Unit at the PRUH in Farnborough is to stay open after campaigners fought the decision to close the specialist ward to inpatients.

In March News Shopper revealed plans to move blood cancer patients from the PRUH to Kings College Hospital, 12 miles away in Denmark Hill.

The plans, which were set to come into force in April, were then paused following outcry from patients, relatives and staff while management consulted “key partners”.

Kings College NHS trust have now confirmed that plans to move inpatients to the Denmark Hill site have been scrapped.

News Shopper: The PRUH failed to meet an essential CQC standard regarding the management of medicines.

Princess Royal University Hospital.

One former patient said that the Chartwell had been an “oasis of peace and calm” during his treatment.

Michael Killen, 66, from Gravel Road, Bromley, and his wife Ellen were treated for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma on the ward.

Mr Killen told News Shopper in March: “It’s very easy to knock the NHS, but I will be the first to jump to its defence, 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 and Ellen Killen.

Nick Moberly, Chief Executive of the Trust, said, “Over the past six months we have carried out an extensive clinical review of the PRUH’s cancer service. We are extremely grateful to staff and The Chartwell Cancer Trust, who contributed to the review.

“I am pleased to say that based on our findings, we have taken the decision to continue providing inpatient cancer care on the Chartwell ward.

“While the review was a very valuable exercise, we acknowledge that the uncertainty over the ward’s future has been unsettling for some staff and patients, and we sincerely apologise for this.

“We will continue to work closely with the Chartwell Cancer Trust - to whom we remain extremely grateful - to identify further improvements and enhance the care we provide to patients.”