Cancer patients are being left in the lurch when it comes to regular check-ups at North Cambs Hospital following the cancellation of a vital clinic.

Mary Brady, whose husband John is being treated for prostate cancer, says he has had numerous appointments cancelled at the urology clinic since October and has only been seen by a consultant because of their persistence.

'There has been no urology clinic at North Cambs since November and I have been told there is unlikely to be one for the foreseeable future. John needs regular check-ups and I'm sure he has only had those because we have pushed for him to be seen at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn,' said Mrs Brady, of Wisbech.

'The CCG (Cambridge and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group) is meant to provide a service, they have told local councillors this will be rectified but that does not appear to be the truth.

'When we were advised, by letter in November, that the service would cease due to 'new time tabling' and another appointment would be made. No such appointment was forthcoming. When contacted, no appointments were available and the service at North Cambs closed 'for the foreseeable future'.

'We were informed in January 2016 by the CCG that the situation was only temporary and the CCG would monitor. There was no intention to cancel services at North Cambs. Today, March 9, we are informed by the Urology Unit at QEH that 'there are no plans to provide a urology service at North Cambs for the foreseeable future'. This is at odds with the explanation from the CCG and a very worrying situation for the patients in and around the Wisbech area.

'We are promised local health services, but apparently, they can be cancelled, without consultation. My worry is now, not only for the urology services but all the other clinics and services that are provided at North Cambs. It also makes a nonsense of the promises of more local health services. Once again Wisbech is the poor relation.'

Councillor Virginia Bucknor has also raised the issue with the CCG and local MP Steve Barclay.

She said: 'We have been assured it is because they don't have a specialist to send to Wisbech, but it will be sorted out. But it has been going on since October, and we don't appear to be any further forward. There are literally 100s on the waiting list and it is not acceptable.'

Mark Evans, Wisbech Local Commissioning Group manager said: 'We are aware that there are concerns about urology services and end of life care beds at the North Cambs Hospital. We would like to reassure residents that the services will continue to be provided and that there are no plans to close the hospital.

'Urology services are temporarily being provided at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, while the trust recruits a new consultant. This is an interim solution and the service will resume at North Cambs Hospital once the consultant is in place.'