As the wife of one of Mr Singh's patients, I write to express my concern and disappointment that he and his team have been stopped from performing cancer of the oesophagus operations in Worthing.

From the time my husband Philip was diagnosed last September, his care has been exemplary, with all the procedures carefully explained.

There was support and help always available throughout his illness and at times he was desperately ill - unable to swallow anything, even his own saliva, or drink a sip of water. He was tube fed and suffered symptoms such as non-stop hiccups and masses of other horrendous things.

When he was offered surgery last March, Mr Singh called him his "salvage" case. Thank heavens, he removed the tumour and saved my husband's life.

Philip is well now, back at work and leading a normal and productive life, all thanks to the wonderful team at Worthing Hospital.

This is just one brief case history. At the support meeting last week, we met 15 other patients who had been through similar terrifying experiences.

Surely, when a team works so well and successfully it is essential to keep the momentum going?

To move the oesophagus care to Brighton and start training another team seems to be a waste of valuable resources, especially a new team unable to perform minimal invasive surgery. Lives may be lost because the surgery is not being offered in the Worthing area.

Please reconsider this decision, value the exceptional expertise we already have and reinstate operations in Worthing, therefore recognising Worthing as the centre of excellence which it has already proved itself to be.

-Mrs Linda Anstey, Goring