THE face of cancer treatment in the north west is set to change as health bodies agree on plans to provide extra chemotherapy and radiotherapy specialist centres.

The majority of cancer patients in Warrington who need specialist treatment currently travel to either The Christie Hospital in Manchester or the Clatterbridge Centre of Oncology on the Wirral – the only place where radiotherapy is available.

Under the new plans a specialist academic oncology unit will be created at Royal Liverpool University Hospital, and up to 16 new radiotherapy machines, called linear accelerators, added to the region.

Clatterbridge’s services will also be enhanced to help acutely ill patients, and cancer treatments at district hospitals will be improved, including those at Warrington Hospital.

“Historically there have been fewer machines available to meet the needs of Cheshire and Merseyside patients, leaving people waiting longer,” said Dr Sarah Barker, NHS Warrington’s medical director, at an NHS Warrington board meeting on Wednesday.

The improvement to services at Warrington Hospital will see more specialist doctors and nurses on the site for those patients who have less complex cancers and can be treated there.

Sixty-seven per cent of Clatterbridge patients live north of the Mersey, so the new plans will place eight linear accelerators there and four south of the river.

The change will cut their travel times.

“I believe it will make a tangible difference to cancer services and, as such, is very good news for Warrington patients,” NHS Warrington’s chief executive Andrew Burgess said.

Pat Taylor, of LINk, said she supported the change and Dr Tony Bates, a GP at Manchester Road and Holes Lane surgeries, said he could see no detriment to the plans.

“It’s about time we had a regional centre for oncology,” he said.

The plans have been unpopular with supporters of the Clatterbridge centre, however, who argue it will drain resources and draw talented staff away, but NHS Warrington’s board agreed on Wednesday to support the changes.

Other NHS board in the region are also considering the plans.

Warrington’s cancer mortality rates are equal to the national average, but across Merseyside the death rates are higher.

The new plan will cost NHS Warrington £318,000 by 2012/13. Replacement of equipment as technology advances is planned for in the cost.

Warrington patients will still be able to choose which oncology centre they use for their treatment.