THE prospect of Wirral's world-renowned cancer unit being moved to Liverpool has been raised again this week.

For Clatterbridge Centre Oncology Centre has confirmed it is in "early talks" about transferring to Liverpool.

The idea has been fiercely opposed by Wirral's MPs since it was first floated three years ago.

The move would see the unit setting up at the Royal Liverpool site in Prescot Street and was initially put to Merseyside and Cheshire primary care boards in 2008 by cancer specialist Professor Mark Baker.

His report at the time said that there was support for “an expansion of radiotherapy services north of the River Mersey.”

Labour MP for Wirral South Alison McGovern said: “Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology has very, very good facilities and I don’t want to see the excellent services it offers disrupted.

“It’s worth saying that such a move would cost a fair amount of money."

Ms McGovern's predecessor Ben Chapman MP led a debate in the House of Commons about the future of the centre in 2008.

The borough's MPs later united to try to ensure any move across the river was quashed.

In 2009 a joint statement from them said: "Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology is a much-valued institution in which we take pride.

"It needs support rather than erosion, especially from proposals emanating from an unaccountable body.

"We do not intend to allow this to go unchallenged and await further reaction from the Minister of Health”

A reprensentative for the Clatterbridge centre today confirmed talks about a Liverpool transfer are ongoing, but refused to comment further.

A spokesman for Royal Liverpool said no "firm proposals" had been drawn up and that if any such scheme were to be devised, it would be subject to public consultation.

Clatterbridge trust recently has invested £4.8m to upgrade all in-patient wards.

A new ward has 24 beds in single-sex bays with six side rooms and will feature the latest facilities and technology offering the best care possible for patients.

In addition, work is nearly complete on a brand-new waiting area, conservatory and day room to ensure relaxation for patients and their guests.

Early this month, Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology was rated among the top three highest-performing NHS organisations in the country, according to a report in the Health Service Journal.

Wirral South MP Alison McGovern continued: "At the moment there is no proposal on the table to move, so I can't comment further.

"But if there was such a proposal, I would support a campaign to keep it here. As a constituent recently said to me 'If it ain't broke, don’t fix it'."

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