Cross-party group of council leaders condemn children’s cancer care move

Children’s cancer services for South London and the south-east will be moved to Evelina Children’s Hospital, NHS leaders announced yesterday.

The move comes despite a petition opposing the change receiving nearly 12,000 signatures and has been condemned by cross-party council leaders following the announcement.

Treatment for about 1,400 children aged under 15 is currently provided by The Royal Marsden Hospital in Fulham Road, Sutton, and St George’s Hospital in Blackshaw Road, Tooting.

From autumn 2026, the Evelina London Children’s Hospital in Westminster Bridge Road, Lambeth, will provide this care.

As part of the move, radiotherapy will be provided at University College Hospital. 

Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders from Wandsworth council have written to the Health Secretary describing the decision as “short-sighted”.

Wandsworth council leader Simon Hogg said: “This is a hugely disappointing decision, and shows that little attention has been paid to the families of children with cancer, who have overwhelmingly voiced their opposition to these proposals.

“St George’s has been offering high-quality cancer care to children for the past 25 years. The removal of services risks losing that clinical expertise and could have a serious knock-on effect on other specialist treatments the hospital provides.”

Merton’s Liberal Democrats have also hit out against the move. Councillor Paul Kohler said the decision was “fundamentally misguided” and “seriously underestimates” the risks involved.

Evelina Hospital is a specialist children’s hospital which treats 120,000 children a year. NHS leaders said all three hospitals will work together to “ensure a smooth handover” and have stressed there will be “no sudden changes to children’s care”.

A spokeswoman for Evelina London Children’s Hospital said: “Throughout the NHS England-led process we have provided detailed evidence to show how Evelina London is best placed to provide high quality care, research and support to children and young people with cancer.

“Bringing together staff from the current Principal Treatment Centre, including the world-renowned team from The Royal Marsden, with the many specialist teams at Evelina London who already care for children with complex medical conditions, will provide joined up and innovative care for children with cancer, in family-friendly facilities.”

The decision for the transfer was made after NHS leaders said the current arrangement does not meet national requirements. 

In 2021, new service rules set out that 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.

A petition set up by Marsden Parents opposing the move in 2020 has received nearly 12,000 signatures.

A 12-week public consultation of children, families and staff, run by NHS England for 12 weeks from September 2023 to December 2023, looked at the options for both St George’s and Evelina Children’s Hospital.

The consultation received a mixed response – with concerns raised about patients travelling further to access care.

A spokesman from NHS England said the concerns raised during the consultation – including transport, parking and accommodation for parents – would be taken into account as the hand over was implemented. 

NHS England, London Medical Director Dr Chris Streather said: “I would like to thank everyone who took part in our public consultation, and for the valuable feedback we received.

“This is a positive step forward for children’s cancer care – at the new location, children who need intensive care will be able to get it on site and the future centre will stand ready to give cutting-edge treatments that require intensive care on site, like other major centres worldwide.

“Service reconfiguration is rarely easy, but the decision taken today will ensure that children with cancer in south London and much of the south east will continue to receive the best possible care now and into the future.”

Pictured top: Cllr Paul Kohler outside St George’s Hospital (Picture: Merton Liberal Democrats)