Politicians will debate a decision by the NHS to cut vital funding to a vital Southport cancer navigator service tonight.
A scrutiny meeting is taking place this evening where councillors will debate a report by the NHS’s local Primary Care Network to cease their funding of Southport Cancer Information Centre’s Cancer Navigator Service.
The decision to cut the funding has been made and the Southport Macmillan Information Centre says this evenings meeting will sadly not change that.
The centre provides vital non-medical based support to patients in the area who have been diagnosed with cancer.
A vital chunk of the Centre’s work is funded by the Southport and Formby Primary Care Network (SFPCN) but they say they can no longer afford to spare the money needed to keep the cancer navigator service going.
They say it’s due to governmental cuts that have affected the Primary Care Network.
Bosses at the Centre said they would vow to continue working for cancer patients but admitted without the extra funding their services would be severely reduced.
Southport Macmillan Centre said the Cancer Navigator Scheme had helped more than 600 cancer patients in the Southport and Formby area last year and the centre will stay open for information.
They added “we will do our best to support anyone affected by cancer.”
Liberal Democrat councillor John Pugh said the cuts would “virtually destroy the current service”.