Children's cancer unit move 'disastrous' - charity

A Surrey charity has criticised a decision to move children's cancer services out of the South East to the Evelina London Children's Hospital as "disastrous".

The government confirmed in February that the specialist services will be transferred in autumn 2026.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it had concluded the move was the best decision for young cancer patients, while NHS England said the current arrangement did not meet national requirements.

Kevin Capel, co-founder of Christopher's Smile in Lightwater, Surrey, said: "It will mean far longer travelling times, no improvement whatsoever in patient outcomes and no clear future as to research."

At the moment, cancer treatment for those aged under 15 in the south east, including Surrey, Sussex and Kent, as well as south London, is provided by the Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton and St George's Hospital, Tooting.

The move will see all specialist cancer services for children transferring to Evelina London Children's Hospital in Lambeth and radiotherapy will be at University College Hospital.

Mr Capel said he is worried about the impact, adding: "This move will be disastrous for children diagnosed with cancer.

"In the current tough economic climate where every penny of NHS funding needs to be spent wisely, how can NHS England possibly justify spending tens of millions of pounds on a project that will deliver so many disadvantages?"

NHS England ran a 12-week consultation in 2023 on the proposed move to the Evelina London Children's Hospital in Lambeth, which currently treats 120,000 children a year.

In 2021, new rules were set which said that very specialist cancer treatment services for children must be on the same site as a level three children's intensive care unit, which the Royal Marsden does not have.

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, carried out a review of the transfer before announcing it should still go ahead.

A DHSC spokesperson said: "There is a compelling case for this decision, which will ensure that children's cancer services are located on the same site as a paediatric intensive care unit, so that the most critically ill children can receive the best care possible when they need it most."

A spokesperson for NHS England said: "The aim of this service change is to secure best quality care for children living in south London, Brighton & Hove, East Sussex, Kent and Medway, and much of Surrey.

"NHS England chose the Evelina London Children's Hospital because it was the option that gave them greatest confidence that it will deliver the best quality care for children with cancer, for decades to come.

"The current arrangement does not meet national requirements as The Royal Marsden does not have a children's intensive care unit on site.

"National guidelines require children's cancer services to be co-located with intensive care facilities to reduce transfer risks and stress for children and their families.

"Being co-located with intensive care also allows centres to offer more innovative treatments, where the chance of requiring intensive care support may be higher."

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