From Pauline Atkinson's house, it's less than a five minute stroll to Salford Royal Hospital, where she has been receiving treatment for breast cancer. Now, she fears, in the future she is going to have to trek all the way to Wythenshawe Hospital's Nightingale Unit, as Salford's Breast Service could shut down completely.
Last April, the Breast Service, which investigates and treats symptoms of breast cancer, was sub-contracted to the Nightingale Unit for a twelve month `interim' period. Health bosses at Salford CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) stated that it was "one of the smallest units in Greater Manchester and was not compliant with current quality standards".
Even so, in 2014/15 the Salford unit provided 8,662 outpatient appointments, delivered 321 breast procedures and operated on 136 cancers. The main issue, a CCG report stated, was that it "provided a symptomatic breast service only and was not aligned with a breast cancer screening unit", while it also had "recruitment issues" and was not meeting its targets.
The Nightingale Unit would provide "resilience" and "contingency to cope with peaks in demand or unplanned staff absences". On the surface the `interim' move seemed like a no brainer for everyone except those who might be expected to use it.
"I couldn't do that journey" says Pauline's sister Theresa Russ "It's an hour there and an hour back. When you get your results and everything, the last thing you want to be doing is sitting on a bus in traffic when you're not well. And it's £50 return in a taxi. It doesn't make any sense. Where's the thoughts on what's happening to the people of Salford?
"None of us as existing patients at Salford Royal have been asked anything at all, we've not been given any choice" she adds "This has happened behind closed doors; none of us know anything about it. All the reports are saying we've had a choice but we haven't. And if the people of Salford were asked, they would have said they don't want it. Anyone with a brain would say `Why should I go to the other side of the city?'"
In a small corner of one of the Salford CCG reports there's a kind of giveaway. After stating that the move is "to give patients and staff as much certainty and stability as possible", it recognises "that discussions are ongoing regarding the longer term reconfiguration of Breast Services within Greater Manchester and the sector". In other words, that it is part of a £2billion cuts programme in Greater Manchester health services, known as `Transformation'.
Indeed in the October board papers for the University Hospital of South Manchester (UHSM), which oversees the Nightingale Unit, it states, under `GM Strategic Theme 3' that "UHSM agreed as transformation lead" for Breast Services.
"It's got to be the cuts, and there's got to be lots of other services that will be moving to other hospitals" says Pauline "I just feel that the people of Salford need to know what is going on behind closed doors at our local hospital because these are our services that are being cut, and everybody needs to be aware because I don't think it will stop here.
"The maternity unit was one of the finest in the country and that closed" she adds "This is what's happening and they are not taking the public and patients into consideration. All the cost is going onto patients who can ill-afford it."
Pauline and her three sisters have been using the Breast Service at Salford Royal for a long time. Theresa's cancer was diagnosed nine years ago, Pauline and her elder sister were diagnosed three years ago and the youngest sister last year...
"None of us can complain about anything, the treatment at Salford was amazing so I don't know where these comments are coming from on these reports" she says "I never saw anything that indicated there were staff shortages or anything, and I've never had an appointment changed until this year, when they sent me a letter changing my appointment for next February. I'm waiting to see if I have to go to the Nightingale Unit instead."
The sisters believe that the Salford unit is being deliberately run down. While the CCG reports states that "ladies may choose" where to have their treatment after being diagnosed, Pauline says "We know people who have never had a choice and have to use the Nightingale Unit...
"We went there when we were diagnosed, and they did the biopsies and then we were told we would go there for our surgery" she adds "Christine and I said `No, we'll go to Salford Royal'. But they never said there was an option, it was only because we knew the clinic was there....And they weren't too happy about us choosing Salford."
Meanwhile, the knock-on effect to the Nightingale Unit is more pressure on its own service...
"We've heard that Wythenshawe appointments are being cancelled and women are having to wait longer for appointments" says Theresa "They're not keeping on top of it because they can't cope with the number of people they've got going."
Indeed, only last week, Pauline's friend's mother had an appointment cancelled as the Unit hadn't got all her results back from a biopsy. She was given a new appointment for the following week which means that she would have waited two weeks for a definite diagnosis.
This is backed up by latest USMH reports for the Nightingale Unit, which show that it failed to meet targets in August and September for `14 day breast symptomatic'. It is now classed in the `Not Assured/Most Deteriorated' category.
Is this the future for other hospital services caught in the Greater Manchester Transformation £2billion cuts?
The Salford Star asked Salford CCG whether patients were consulted on the move to the Nightingale Unit; whether the move was related to cuts; whether the Salford Breast service is closing down permanently; what plans it had in place to get women to Wythenshawe; and whether it would comment on how the Nightingale Unit is coping with new patients.
Salford CCG didn't respond directly but sent the Star a link to a news story (December 7th) which attempts to placate patients and has what looks like a new hurried consultation on the Breast Service click here for details.
Update: 11th December
There is a petition on Change.org to `Reopen Salford One Stop Breast Clinic' that has been signed by almost 800 people... "The One Stop Breast Clinic at Salford Royal needs to reopen. It's so important that the people of Salford have easy access to the care they are entitled to, particularly during unsettling and difficult times..." it states.
To sign the petition - click here
* See also previous Salford Star article: The Christie Facing £7.5m Cuts as Cancer Patient Made To Wait For Bed - click here
Saturday 10th December
`No Room at the Hospital' Rally Against Greater Manchester NHS Cutbacks
Assemble by the Central Reference Library in St Peter's Square, Manchester 12.45 to set off 1pm.
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