Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology consults on changing name to Clatterbridge Cancer Centre

Aug 17 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Bromborough and Bebington News

Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology consults on changing name to Clatterbridge Cancer Centre

CLATTERBRIDGE Centre for Oncology is consulting on whether to change its name.

Chiefs are concerned the title is confusing and want to remove the word oncology – instead calling the hospital Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.

It provides radiotherapy and chemotherapy services to patients across Merseyside and Cheshire.

A spokeswoman said: “The key change we are proposing is to replace the word ‘oncology’ with ‘cancer’.

“The aim of this is to make it much clearer to our patients and the public what the hospital does, as the word ‘oncology’ is a medical term which is not always understood and can cause confusion to our patients and the wider public.”

“We do not plan to take the word ‘Clatterbridge’ out of our name as we understand the reassurance it provides to our patients and their families.

The trust also has a satellite site at the Walton Centre, in Liverpool, and provides some community services.

The spokeswoman added: “Changing our name will also help avoid any confusion for patients around who is delivering their treatment as it is important that patients can clearly identify the service they receive is being provided by the Clatterbridge specialists, no matter where they are being treated.

“In these challenging economic times, the trust is mindful it must minimise the cost of delivering these benefits. If a decision is taken to change the name, it will be a simple process to update any electronic uses of the logo such as websites., intranet, email and letterhead templates will be changed immediately.

“Printed materials would be amended only when a new print run is ordered, so as to incur no extra cost.

“Most signage is scheduled to be replaced as part of our planned estates programme, so there will be little or no extra cost.”

Wirral News revealed last month that talks were ongoing to relocate the centre to the Royal Liverpool Hospital site. Hospital chiefs said no definite plans have been made.

TO comment on the name change idea, visit www.surveymonkey.com/s/clatterbridge to complete a two-minute survey, or write to Andrea Leather, Corporate Governance Manager, Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology NHS Foundation Trust, Clatterbridge Road, Bebington, Wirral CH63 4JY. Consultation ends on September 20.