Very specialist cancer treatment services for children living in south London and much of south east England: progress update 

On 14 March 2024, leaders of NHS England (London and South East regions) chose Evelina London Children’s Hospital as the future location of very specialist cancer services for children living in south London and much of south east England, with conventional radiotherapy at University College Hospital in central London.

Since then, Evelina London and NHS England have been working with partners to jointly plan and put in place arrangements for the safe transfer of these services to the specialist children’s hospital.

Evelina London is focusing on ensuring very specialist children’s cancer services transfer safely to the children’s hospital when the time comes. They will be part of its existing outstanding-rated children’s hospital services. Evelina London is using feedback from the public consultation, and working closely with partners, patients and families, staff and other stakeholders, to develop these plans.

NHS England is overseeing this work and other aspects of the reconfiguration.

The move is not expected to happen before October 2026 and there will be no sudden changes to children’s cancer care in the meantime.

NHS England London Medical Director Dr Chris Streather said: “A huge amount of work is underway to prepare for this positive step forward for children’s cancer care. We are very grateful to everyone who is contributing to this work.”

Avey Bhatia, Chief Nurse, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and Senior Responsible Owner for Evelina London’s Children’s Cancer Principal Treatment Centre Programme, said: “The programme to ensure the safe transfer of children’s cancer services to Evelina London is well and truly underway and gaining momentum all the time. We are working with patients, parents, staff and charities to ensure the future children’s cancer centre at Evelina London gives the best possible care for children with cancer.”

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