THE medical director at Southend Hospital says work is being done to keep vital cancer surgery in the borough.

Specialised urological cancer surgery is currently provided at both Southend and Colchester hospitals.

New government guidelines say only one surgery unit for complex open or keyhole surgery on the kidney, bladder or prostate is needed per one million people, meaning either Southend or Colchester will stop offering it.

The Echo is campaigning to save the service locally and has received the backing of nearly 600 people already.

Neil Rothnie, medical director at Southend Hospital, said: “It is essential that we make it very clear to everyone who is concerned that Southend Hospital is not losing its cancer services or its urology services.

“The review that is currently under way refers only to specialist urology cancer surgery, and we are working with our partners at the clinical commissioning groups on our proposal to retain these services here at Southend.

“The NHS England Specialist Commissioning Team is leading a review of services in Essex.

“All Essex trusts have been invited to express their interest in hosting the service and we will submit our plans in August and the final decision will be made next year.

“I’d like to reassure our local population that this review does not affect other areas of cancer care, either for urology patients, or for those being treated at Southend for other cancers.

“Regardless of the final decision next year, we will continue to provide cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and brachytherapy for urology patients at Southend Hospital, as we are now.

“GPs will continue to refer patients with suspected cancer to their local hospital for investigation and diagnosis, and most cancer care will continue to be provided locally.”

If the surgery is no longer offered at Southend, patients face an 80-mile round trip to Colchester.

To sign the Echo’s petition, visit: http://tinyurl.com/lxbyluq What the changes may mean: What could go?

The review is looking at closing down specialised urological cancer surgery at Southend Hospital.

The surgery is complex open or laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery on the kidney, bladder or prostate as part of a patient’s treatment for cancer.

This only affects a small number of patients who require surgery.

Four surgeons at Southend Hospital currently carry out urological cancer surgery.

Between 2012 and 2014, 271 patients underwent the specialist surgery at Southend Hospital.

What will stay?

Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and brachytherapy for urology patients at Southend Hospital will remain regardless of the decision made next year.

Cancer services and urology services are not at risk of closing down.