Surgeon speaks out again about need for cancer surgery to remain in Worthing

He maintains that Worthing surgeons did not 'sign up' to the change, and therefore do not feel bound by the conclusions which would remove the surgery from Worthing.

He has made a formal request to Toni Wilkinson, chairman of Sussex Cancer Network and Dr Nigel Marchbank, clinical director of Sussex Cancer Network not to sign their names to what would be the closure of an acknowledged 'island of excellence' and throw away ongoing clinical research.

"This would be a great loss to the NHS and particularly cancer patients," he said.

Mr Dickson, who was a surgeon at Worthing Hospital from 1972-2000, was the Worthing clinical representative and diligently attended the cancer network meetings for many years from their inception.

He explained: "I and some other non-Brighton representatives, pointed out that with some cancers there would be problems of amalgamation. It was agreed that the parent committee should lay down guidelines, as did Professor Calman, and the details would be sorted out by each tumour group.

"At that time there did not seem to be a major obstacle in having a 'virtual' centre with major surgery at more than one site providing all the usual criteria were met.

For full and comprehensive report, see special feature in the West Sussex Gazette November 3