Head and neck cancer patients have moved one step further in their campaign to get treatment offered locally.

Cancer Head Including Neck Support group (CHINS) are fighting to get all chemotherapy and radiotherapy returned to Queen’s - after being promised it would be brought back following the settling-in period at the new Romford hospital.

Since then, patients have had to travel to the other side of London to Barts Hospital - either by public transport or a cab - to receive life-saving treatment.

The group, supported by Chairman of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Cllr Ted Eden, and committee colleague Cllr Fred Osbourne, met with medical director of the Trust, Dr Yasmin Drabu, commissioner of services for the North East London Cancer Network, Bob Park, and divisional nurse director, Judith Douglas, to discuss the issue last Monday, September 8.

Cllr Eden said: “There’s no dignity travelling home from Barts when you’re feeling sick.”

Mr Park agreed and said: “For chemo and radiotherapies there is a commitment to deliver it on this site.”

When asked if the reason for moving services was cash-related, Mr Park said “absolutely not”.

The group were not given a date of when radiotherapy and chemotherapy would return to Queen’s, but Judith Douglas said: “I’m not one to hang about.”

The decision on whether some surgery will move to Barts will be decided at a Peer Review at a later date.

In a letter to Cllr Eden, BHR Chief Executive John Goulston said: “BHRT does have a dedicated ward for these patients and we are looking to invest in increasing the support that they require.