We contacted all Welsh Government Assembly Members earlier this year. We summarised our concerns about the plans for the new cancer centre, and the process being used. We’re posting sections of the letter on this site.
Misrepresentation / Suppression of the level of concern within the Velindre NHS Trust:
In the document “Why not build a new Velindre Cancer Centre on another hospital site?” Velindre make the following statement:
“Our plans for providing specialist, non-surgical cancer services for people across south east Wales have the support of health board clinicians, our staff and patients”
Both TCS (Transforming Cancer Services) and the Velindre NHS Trust will have been aware of the level of concern expressed by a significant number of its senior doctors and nurses.
A letter was written to this effect on 24 July 2020, but appeared to progress no further than the Chief executive, and it was not until external help and reassurance was provided by the British Medical Association, that the letter was sent to the Health Minister and other members of the Health, Social Care and Sports committee.
I requested, under the Freedom of Information act, a copy of the letter written by the British Medical association to the Velindre NHS trust. After 57 working days (The expectation is that a response will be provided within 20 working days) The Velindre NHS Trust wrote to me advising that they would not release the letters as requested.