The Anglia Cancer Network (ACN), the body that coordinates the development of cancer services in Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Peterborough and part of Bedfordshire, said surgery for head and neck cancer needed to be transferred from Ipswich to Norwich to comply with national guidelines.

The Anglia Cancer Network (ACN), the body that coordinates the development of cancer services in Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Peterborough and part of Bedfordshire, said surgery for head and neck cancer needed to be transferred from Ipswich to Norwich to comply with national guidelines.

This guidance suggests that surgery is carried out in centres which serve a population of approximately one million people and treat at least 100 new cases each year, which Ipswich Hospital does not do.

Audrey Bradford, director of the ACN said: “The proposal being consulted upon affects head and neck cancer surgery only. All diagnostic rehabilitation and support care will continue in Ipswich, meaning patients will continue to receive nursing care at Ipswich Hospital following their operation. The cancer network is not aware of any impact of these changes on the A&E department.

“Healthcare professionals and people who have been through head and neck cancer treatment can make a helpful contribution to the consultation, enabling us to best shape the future of the service. Those with first hand experience of treatment are encouraged to feed back their views.

“There is a challenge to provide services as locally as possible while ensuring we provide the best possible care for patients.

“This has been the case for other cancers as well, and services have already changed in order to meet recommended best practice. In the case of surgery for head and neck cancers, the national evidence is that quality of care and survival rates is improved if it is provided in specialist centres.”