In line with the national improving outcomes guidance, upper gastro-intestinal cancer surgery was moved from Royal Devon and Exeter and Royal Cornwall hospitals and centralised at Plymouth’s Derriford hospital on 1 January 2010. All pre and post-operative care for patients will continue to be provided locally.
That is as may be, but a constituent of mine says that having volunteered for a trial of a procedure intended to prevent post-operative complications when he was at Royal Devon and Exeter hospital in October 2009, before the move, he has been told that as a result of the move the trial has been cancelled. Can the Minister clarify the position in regard to research and trials in upper gastro-intestinal surgery since the move?
Some consultants who are carrying out trials involving particular kinds of surgery are reviewing the procedures that they use, and are currently discussing with colleagues how the operations can best be carried out in future. The issues are being examined by the clinicians involved.