Nursing care of cancer patients in Airedale is set to be reviewed after a complaint from a former nurse.

An external expert in cancer nursing will be brought in to offer advice.

But the first step will be a survey of patients and GPs in the area.

The service review being conducted by Airedale NHS Trust has been introduced after a complaint from a patient about conditions at the oncology clinic. Former Macmillan nurse Ann Wherrett, of Starbotton in the Dales, said she was horrified by conditions at the clinic when she visited it for treatment.

The treatment and care were good, she said, but the clinic itself was cramped and lacked private areas for discussion or for people to recover after they had had bad news about their condition.

There was also a lack of cancer services in the community for patients.

A paper from director of nursing Susan Franks for Airedale's trust board reports: "The review will consist of the following elements: a survey of patients to seek their perceptions of the service as it is now provided and to assess deficits in the present service. It will also involve a survey of GPs to seek their perceptions of the service."

The results will be studied by an external expert, Rosie Morton, palliative care lead nurse for County Durham and Darlington Health Authority. She was recommended to the trust by the regional office of the NHS.

The trust will liaise with local primary care groups - which are responsible for commissioning and providing health care for their populations - if changes are needed.

The issue will be discussed by Airedale's trust board tomorrow.