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| Child cancer care units retained | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Child cancer services will be "retained and enhanced" in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has said. | |
| It had been feared the care centre in Aberdeen would be downgraded after a review recommended centralisation. | |
| Ms Sturgeon said: "I realise there has been a great deal of uncertainty over children's cancer services in Scotland and I can now remove any doubts." | |
| Experts had said centralising services could improve treatment and survival. | |
| One proposal was to withdraw some aspects of diagnosis, treatment, research and training from Aberdeen and Edinburgh, concentrating them in Glasgow. | One proposal was to withdraw some aspects of diagnosis, treatment, research and training from Aberdeen and Edinburgh, concentrating them in Glasgow. |
| Fighting cancer is a traumatic enough experience for any child, without having to travel hundreds of miles for treatment. Mike RumblesWest Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MSP | |
| Another would have seen Aberdeen downgraded, with Glasgow and Edinburgh becoming national centres for children's cancer. | Another would have seen Aberdeen downgraded, with Glasgow and Edinburgh becoming national centres for children's cancer. |
| NHS Grampian argued that if there were to be two centres, one should be in the north of the country. | NHS Grampian argued that if there were to be two centres, one should be in the north of the country. |
| Ms Sturgeon, speaking in Edinburgh, said: "There is no recommendation to remove children's cancer services from any of the sites where it is provided and I can confirm today that none of the four units will be downgraded in any way. | |
| "I am delighted to announce that the service will be delivered as a network across the four sites in Scotland. | |
| "The innovative model will promote a uniformity of care that does not exist at present and ensure that care is provided as close to home as achievable." | |
| 'Vital services' | |
| West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MSP Mike Rumbles said: "I am very pleased that the Scottish Government has seen sense and decided not to move these vital health services. | West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MSP Mike Rumbles said: "I am very pleased that the Scottish Government has seen sense and decided not to move these vital health services. |
| The Lib Dem MSP said: "Fighting cancer is a traumatic enough experience for any child, without having to travel hundreds of miles for treatment. These proposals would have made it very difficult for their families to visit them as well." | The Lib Dem MSP said: "Fighting cancer is a traumatic enough experience for any child, without having to travel hundreds of miles for treatment. These proposals would have made it very difficult for their families to visit them as well." |
| It comes after news that all four of Scotland's specialist neurosurgery units are to be retained. | It comes after news that all four of Scotland's specialist neurosurgery units are to be retained. |
| Neurosurgery is currently performed at hospitals in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee. | Neurosurgery is currently performed at hospitals in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee. |
| The SNP Holyrood administration has already made it clear it opposes centralising health services. | The SNP Holyrood administration has already made it clear it opposes centralising health services. |