PATIENTS will continue to receive vital cancer scans at the Churchill Hospital after a dramatic u-turn by NHS bosses.

Doctors had raised fears over patient safety under NHS England’s plans to move PET-CT scans away from the hospital in Headington – a centre of excellence for cancer care – as part of a new contract with private firm InHealth.

However, following a backlash from doctors, MPs and patients, health leaders have backtracked over the move, with a new deal in place (in principle at least) which will see the two PET-CT scanners remain at the Churchill.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) will also continue to provide doctors, technicians and nurses for the service.

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The significant step down by NHS chiefs came after doctors at the trust warned that moving the service from the Churchill would ‘undoubtedly cause clinical harm’ to patients.

PET-CT scans (Positron emission tomography and computed tomography) are vital in the diagnosis of cancer as well as being used by doctors to see how well treatments are progressing.

Oxford Mail:

Under InHealth’s initial proposals inpatients at the Churchill would have been forced to travel by ambulance to the GenesisCare centre in Sandy Lane West, Littlemore.

However, following the backlash those plans have now been scrapped.

Instead, to preserve the service for patients in Oxfordshire, a deal has been struck (in-principle at least) which will see InHealth work in partnership with OUH to provide the PET-Ct service.

A new NHS England report on the new contract states: “Under the new deal, InHealth’s clinical lead will work collaboratively with OUH’s PET-CT clinicians, who will continue to provide clinical reporting for the service.”

The new deal, according to the report, means there will be 'no impact for the Oxfordshire population'.

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The private/public partnership is a ‘step in the right direction’, according to bosses at OUH which has held the PET-CT contract since 2005.

Trust chairman, Dame Fiona Caldicott, said: “This is an agreement in principle at this stage, but it is a step in the right direction which we welcome.

“We look forward to working in partnership with NHS England and InHealth over the coming weeks and months to ensure that we can come to a detailed final agreement which is in the best interests of patients.”

Read again: Churchill 'loses' contract for PET-CT scanning

The move has also been welcomed by local MPs who had previously called for the government to put a block on the privatisation of the service.

East Oxford MP Anneliese Dodds said: “I am pleased to see that NHS England have responded to pressure from myself and staff and patients at the Churchill Hospital by backtracking on their previous decision and allowing PET-CT Scanning facilities to remain in Churchill Hospital and be operated by NHS staff.

 “What we have seen from the response to this case is that the public is acutely aware that the NHS is best placed to provide the quality care they need.”

While Oxford West and Abingdon MP, Layla Moran said: “This small assurance from NHS England is the first sign of real progress thanks to patients, campaigners, doctors, nurses and others voicing their concerns. I will, of course, keep campaigning until the agreement is set in stone.

“We all know the Churchill’s PET-CT service is absolutely vital, and we must listen to patients and do what is in their best interest.

“Accessibility, cost and quality of care must not worsen, regardless of what happens in the procurement process.”

Despite now limited input into the service in Oxford, InHealth will still continue to run two new PET-CT scanners in Swindon and Milton Keynes under the new NHS ENgland contract.