A PENSIONER who has led a 14-year-old fight for chemotherapy services to be reinstated at Stobhill hospital has been told it is under consideration.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is reviewing cancer treatment services across the region, part of which will involve the creation of a ‘hub and spoke model’ for cancer therapies.

Chemotherapy is currently provided at the Beatson Centre for patients north of the River Clyde including East Dunbartonshire and the New Victoria hospital for patients in the south.

The Stobhill service was removed after a public consultation in 2002 and a major review of treatment services. It did not form part of services at the new Stobhill hospital, which opened in 2009.

Tom Herbert, from Lenzie, has led a long campaign for a chemotherapy service to be returned to Stobhill, beginning when his late wife was being treated for breast cancer at the Beatson.

He argues that the population of the north is “slightly higher” than the south, which has its own dedicated service and says patients in the north face long and costly bus and taxi trips for cancer treatment.

He said: “The whole of East Dunbartonshire and north of Glasgow has to go to the Beatson while, the south can get treatment at the New Victoria hospital.

“The former Chief Executive of NHSGGC Robert Calderwood always said there wasn’t sufficient patients to merit a service but the population of East Dunbartonshire and the north is slightly more than the south.

“For someone travelling from Kirkintilloch to the Beatson, it’s a 1hr and 20 minute bus trip and £10. A taxi to Gartnavel costs up to £17 or £18 while a taxi to Stobhill costs about £7.

“I know they talk about patient transport but it’s not always suitable.

“When I started this campaign in 2005, there was seven of us in the group. I’m the only one who is left now.

“My wife used to say to me ‘give it up Tom’ but it was fine for us. I had a car and could drive her there but you have people travelling by bus and feeling nauseated after treatment on the way back. She had a good life but there were poor souls there, getting treatment who could have gone to Stobhill.”

Jonathan Best, Chief Operating Officer, said: “Work is ongoing to look at a hub and spoke model for providing cancer therapies across the West of Scotland

“As part of that work we are looking at the new Stobhill and Victoria Hospitals.”