Charity criticises 'delay' to new cancer unit

A cancer charity claims the opening of a planned new £2.5m specialist unit in Aberdeen has been delayed by at least a year.

Swift Urological Responsive Evaluation (Sure) is expected to improve diagnosis times for people with symptoms of urological cancers.

Ucan, which joined forces with Friends of Anchor to raise the money needed for the unit, said a change to where it would be located at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary had caused the delay.

NHS Grampian said it needed to ensure the unit "fitted neatly" with other services.

Urological cancers include prostate, penis and testicular cancer, as well as kidney and bladder.

It had been intended the unit would be within the current urology department.

But NHS Grampian said it was looking at setting it up in a different area of the hospital.

Ucan chief executive Kenny Anderson, who has himself been treated for prostate cancer, has expressed "disappointment" at the change from the original plan.

He said there were also ventilation concerns about the new location.

The new unit could be open from May next year.

NHS Grampian said it was crucial Sure was located in the right place.

A spokesperson said: "We have further examined the initial proposal, and the original space earmarked for the Sure unit.

"We note some concerns about the area identified, however once refurbished it will provide an excellent facility for the location of the Sure unit."