CANCER campaigners in Exeter have increased pressure on health chiefs by calling for a public inquiry into centralisation of specialist services in Plymouth.

A patient support group has said it would welcome transparency over proposals to move surgery for upper gastro-intestinal cancer services from Exeter and Cornwall to Plymouth.

It comes as Hannah Foster, the Conservative parliamentary hopeful for Exeter, accused the Devon Primary Care Trust (PCT) of a "definitive failure" over the consultation process on the issue.

In Devon, the PCT insisted it did not take external legal advice on the transfer, despite the exclusive revelation by the Western Morning News that Cornwall PCT was advised that it was "plainly unlawful" to relocate to Derriford Hospital without a proper consultation.

Cornish health bosses have since published contradictory advice that there was "no legal requirement" for such a consultation.

Now Lindsay Hirst, chairman of the Exeter, Mid and East Devon Oesophageal Cancer Patient and Carers' Support Group, has added her voice to the demands from Cornish campaigners for a full public inquiry – on the grounds of transparency rather than legality.

She said: "We're very unhappy about the move. We're still hoping it won't happen. We would certainly embrace a public inquiry if it came to fruition."

Mrs Hirst's husband John, 64, had invasive surgery on his oesophagus in 2003. The Royal Devon and Exeter has since pioneered a less intrusive keyhole surgery technique, which Mrs Hirst believes may have meant a better quality of life for her husband, had it been available at the time.

Six years on, he is still severely affected by the procedure. Mrs Hirst said: "He had to have a rib remove – it was an extremely invasive process. His stomach is now in his chest cavity, where it is basically competing with his lungs for space."

If the proposal goes ahead, much of the support work would remain in Exeter, but the surgery would take place in Plymouth. Mrs Hirst said: "We feel that it's putting patients through a very unnecessary journey at an extremely traumatic time. When the existing surgery in Exeter is of such a high standard, we fail to understand why."

Mrs Foster raised early fears that the decision was a foregone conclusion in November 2007 when the Devon PCT still insisted no board-level decisions had been raised. "I still think there has been a definitive failure in the consultation process. The whole thing has been incredibly badly handled by the PCT.

"These institutions work for the people and are paid for by the taxpayer. They have a responsibility to the people to be open and transparent, and I think they have failed badly."

Mrs Foster said campaigners fought long and hard to ensure a compromise was reached, and she had "no concerns" about the legality of the move.

Rebecca Harriott, interim chief executive at NHS Devon, said the process had been "thorough and transparent".

She cited an independent review in September 2008 which recommended the single centre. "The creation of a large single centre for the whole of Devon and Cornwall will ensure these specialist cancer services are secure for the future."