A WOMAN whose husband’s life was saved by a specialist cancer unit at Staffordshire Hospital has launched a nationwide online petition against its planned privatisation.

The contract to outsource Staffordshire’s cancer treatment and end-of-life unit could be worth £1.2 billion.

Gail Gregory says her mother was cared for at the centre 20 years ago when she had terminal cancer, and eight years ago her husband’s life was saved by staff at the facility.

Ms Gregory said: “Patients who are suffering need to know that the staff caring for them are there to save lives, not help turn a profit.”

If enough people across the country “pile in against this privatisation, we might be able to stop the deal in its tracks,” she added.

“This government has sold off more and more of our NHS. Bosses in Staffordshire are under pressure from high up — so we need to make this embarrassing nationally.

“This close to an election, the last thing the government wants is a national scandal.”

Sign the petition at secure.38degrees.org.uk/staffs-sell-off