Permanent changes to cancer treatment services in Ayrshire have been proposed by the NHS - but the public can have their say.

Alterations were made to the health board’s Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) services on a temporary basis in 2020 at the start of the covid-19 pandemic with a consultation to keep the changes open until May 19.

The service includes all anti-cancer drug treatments, such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy and saw the health board move all treatments from Ayr Hospital – using a separate bespoke unit for day case chemotherapy and making use of the inpatient cancer ward at Crosshouse Hospital.

NHS Ayrshire & Arran Director of Acute Services Joanne Edwards said: “We are asking everyone living in Ayrshire and Arran to join the conversation on Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy, which includes types of treatment like chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

“Our consultation summary document explains that to keep our patients and staff as safe as possible, changes were made rapidly to the local SACT service during 2020 with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

“Part of this was to move SACT treatments out of University Hospital Ayr completely, moving day case chemotherapy to a bespoke unit separate from the acute hospital and having one inpatient cancer ward at University Hospital Crosshouse.

“As the current delivery model has been regarded so positively, both by those in treatment as well as the teams delivering their care, there are now proposals to retain the changes.

“To get the full picture on how cancer treatments are being delivered in Ayrshire at the moment, I’d urge everyone to read the information which is being made available during our consultation.”

The survey is available online as well as documents detailing the changes made and the reasoning behind them, and Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) documents.

Alongside the survey, in person and online meetings will be held across the three-month consultation period with details available online closer to the time.

To access the survey and documents, visit www.jointheconversation-nhsaaa.co.uk.