The comments were made after a draft leaflet was circulated at a meeting of the cancer services user group implying patients would have access to better treatment at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

The leaflet, once finalised, is intended for cancer patients admitted to hospital and offers advice as to where their future care should take place - Airedale or Bradford.

The draft promoted the latter, pointing out it has a specialist medical oncology ward, staffed by specialist nurses, as well as an experienced doctor on hand and regular consultant rounds.

Airedale, it appeared, had less to recommend it, with patients warned they would be cared for by non-specialist staff and not necessarily on a specialist ward and senior oncology doctors, although available, not supervising their treatment directly.

"To a newly diagnosed patient, the wording on this draft leaflet would be very frightening," said Mrs Sally Lambert, chairman of Bosom Friends.
"Airedale has a specialist medical ward, 'HODU' and ward 3, where they have specialist oncology doctors and nurses and offer high levels of care for all cancer patients, so why are they advising patients to go elsewhere.

"Is there some plan to transfer all oncology services to Bradford RI by stealth?"

Ann Wagner, at Airedale NHS Trust, said the leaflet at the centre of the row was only a draft version for comments. "We regularly involve this group in the production of patient information and in this case asked them for their advice on information to be included in a patient leaflet for in-patient care," she said.

"We have noted all the comments made by the user group and our staff and are in the process of producing the final version, based on these suggestions. The draft leaflet is not, and was not, intended to be in current circulation with the public."

She added Airedale continues to improve its cancer services.