A SOUTHAMPTON medical service has been named a centre of excellence for treating rare tumours.

The specialist unit for patients with neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), which combines expertise from three sites and meets at Southampton General Hospital, was recognised by the European Neuroendocrine Tumour Society.

It brings together experts in oncology, pathology, radiology, nuclear medicine, endocrinology, surgery, gastroenterology and nursing, including medics at Southampton General Hospital.

They work alongside clinicians from the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth and the Dorset Cancer Centre to form the Wessex NET Group.

NETs are rare types of cancer and usually found in the pancreas, bowel or lungs but can also develop in other parts of the body.

They develop from specialised cells that are found throughout the body and form a link between the nervous system and the endocrine system, a collection of glands which produce hormones.

The group sees more than 100 new patients a year and meets every week at Southampton General Hospital, where decisions about treatment are made. Patients then get treated in a hospital near to their home to minimise the impact on work and home life without compromising their care.

Formed by surgeon Neil Pearce in 2005, the Wessex NET Group is now headed by surgical colleague Tom Armstrong, who also has specialist expertise in such cancers.

The group is supported by patient support group and charity fund PLANETS, which is linked to Southampton Hospital Charity and fundraises for pancreatic, liver and neuroendocrine tumour patients and services.

The charity was co-founded in 2010 by Mr Pearce alongside some of his former patients and colleagues.

Together they have raised almost £500,000, which has helped fund a NETs specialist nurse, a new ultrasound scanner, new specialist cancer treatments and a pancreatic cancer research programme in Southampton.

Mr Pearce, who is now associate medical director for patient safety at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, said the recognition demonstrated the success of medical teams "working together with joint clinics, collective management and shared decision-making".

He added: “This model delivers patient-centred care as close to the patient’s home as possible, while still giving access to the highest level of expertise available and the most modern and effective treatments.

“Recognition as a centre of excellence reflects years of hard work to deliver the best possible care to patients from across the south of England.”