Cancer charity chiefs today vowed they would raise their concerns to health bosses about plans to merge two units at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, resulting in the loss of a number of beds.

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust is looking at plans which would see 16 beds in the oncology ward merged with the haematology ward. If it goes ahead, the move could be completed before the winter.

The proposals have come under fire from patients and campaigners including Pat Davies, whose late husband Frank helped to found the Lingen Davies Cancer Relief Fund which raised the funds to help pay for the creation of the cancer unit.

Now Dr Barbara Marsh, chairman of the Lingen Davies Cancer Relief Fund, has spoken out on the issue, stating that trustees were ‘surprised’ to hear of the proposed merger.

“The trustees were surprised to hear such plans have been suggested and are expressing their concerns to hospital management,” she said.

“The charity’s constitution states that we raise funds to improve facilities for the care of people with cancer in Shropshire and Mid Wales.”

But Dr Marsh added that charity members realised it was not its decision to make.

“The charity supports Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust in providing the best possible cancer services for local people but considers it is up to the hospital management and clinicians to run the service as they see fit. There are continual changes in cancer treatment and we do not want to stop progress,” she said.

Dr Marsh added that the planned merger would not affect the creation of the new £5 million cancer unit at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, which is in the process of being built with the support of funding from the Lingen Davies appeal.

She said: “It is important not to mix up the current cancer centre appeal with this proposed move. Building is well under way with the new cancer and haematology centre at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.”

Dr Saif Awwad, consultant clinical oncologist and lead clinician for oncology and haematology services at the hospital, said the aim of the merger was to allow inpatient facilities to exist in one ward area.

He said the planned move, which may be completed before the winter, would allow the hospital to continue to provide a ‘dedicated care environment’ to patients.