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The report capturing public and stakeholder feedback on proposals to relocate Mount Vernon Cancer Centre has been published today, marking an important milestone in plans to secure the long-term future of specialised cancer services across Hertfordshire and parts of Bedfordshire, North London, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.

The report can be found at https://mvccreview.nhs.uk/document-library.

• Reasons for proposed changes

The proposals were developed after clinicians warned that specialist cancer services currently provided at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre are at risk of being lost within the next few years unless they can be relocated alongside acute hospital services.

The report’s publication follows a three-month public consultation on the proposals to move specialised cancer services to a new purpose-built cancer centre at Watford General Hospital while expanding care closer to home through local hospitals and community services. While patients continue to receive high-quality care from dedicated staff, the current site at Northwood lacks the acute hospital services increasingly needed to support modern cancer treatment.

As a result:

• Patients with blood cancers can no longer be treated at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre
• Some patients with complex medical needs already receive treatment elsewhere
• Early-phase clinical trials cannot be delivered on the current site
• Some patients require transfer by ambulance to other hospitals during treatment if they become seriously unwell and need specialist support not available at Mount Vernon.

Clinical teams and independent reviews have consistently concluded that the current site cannot support the full range of modern cancer treatments over the long term. Without access to the wider services available on an acute hospital site, treatment options would continue to reduce, recruitment and retention would become increasingly difficult, and the cancer centre would continue to move towards complete closure.

Without access to the wider services available on an acute hospital site, treatment options would continue to reduce.

Doctors and healthcare leaders concluded that specialist cancer services must be co-located with acute hospital services to ensure patients can continue to access the most advanced treatments and clinical trials in the future. Watford General Hospital was identified as the preferred location because it is the closest acute hospital to the existing site and would have the least overall impact on patient travel times for patients across all three regions the cancer centre serves. In addition, the proposed full-scale redevelopment of the Watford site means it is possible to design and develop modern facilities for both cancer care and other acute services.

• Consultation findings

Between January and March 2026, more than 3,500 people took part in the consultation through surveys, public meetings, roadshows and community-led events. The consultation survey received 2,222 responses, while a community microgrant programme enabled local organisations to run their own consultation discussions, resulting in 68 independently organised community events across the area.

The findings provide a substantial evidence base that will help form the Decision-Making Business Case which will be developed over the summer.

Mount Vernon Cancer Centre Clinical Lead and Consultant Oncologist Dr Amy Guppy said; “The current Mount Vernon site is no longer able to support the level of cancer care that patients need today, or the care they are likely to need in the future.

“As cancer doctors, our priority is to provide patients with the highest quality care and access to the latest treatments and research. We believe the best way to secure that future for Mount Vernon Cancer Centre is to move to a site with immediate access to acute specialist services, including intensive care, surgery and medicine.

“We are very grateful to everyone who took the time to share their views during the consultation, and the feedback we have received will play an important role in helping us shape services that are as accessible and patient-centred as possible.”

The consultation found that public opinion fell into two distinct groups, with 48% of respondents supporting the proposals and 42% opposing them. These views were strongly influenced by people’s views about access to services. Those who believed the proposals would improve clinical safety and access to specialist care were more likely to support them. Those who opposed the proposals most commonly cited concerns about travel times, transport options, parking, costs and reliance on family or carers.

Support was higher among healthcare professionals, with 69% of clinicians responding to a separate survey backing the proposals. Respondents also highlighted the importance of maintaining the calm, personalised environment that patients value at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, alongside concerns about funding, deliverability and timescale.

Feedback showed greater support for introducing an additional radiotherapy facility.

Consultation feedback showed greater support for introducing an additional radiotherapy facility in the north of the area than for having no additional radiotherapy facility. However, there was no clear preference between the potential locations in Stevenage or Luton.

Dr Jane Halpin, Managing Director of the East of England Office of Commissioning said; “The consultation has provided valuable insight into how people think these proposals might affect patients, families and communities, as well as practical suggestions for how they could be improved and alternative ideas that we are now carefully reviewing.

“We have heard clearly that people want access to the best possible cancer care, but that they are also concerned about accessible and affordable travel, transport and parking. Our priority is to ensure patients can access safe, high-quality specialist cancer care now and in the future. That means ensuring we can provide the latest treatments, clinical expertise and emergency support whenever they need it, while designing services that are as accessible, patient-centred and easy to navigate as possible.

“We will now carefully consider all of the consultation findings alongside the clinical evidence, alternative suggestions and potential ways of reducing the impact on patients and families, before developing our final recommendations.”

The consultation findings were independently analysed by consultation specialists Olovus, who produced the final consultation report. In an additional step to strengthen transparency and accountability, participants were invited to review and comment on a draft version of the report before publication. Ten responses were received from individuals and organisations during the two-week review period, resulting in a number of amendments and clarifications, including additional detail about specific groups of respondents and concerns raised during the consultation.

Commissioners will now review the consultation findings, consider the suggestions and alternative options put forward, and develop final recommendations later this year.

From 18th May to 1st June the draft report on the findings of the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre public consultation will be available to review before it is finalised in what is being called a ‘transparency period.’ The report is available here.

This will enable those who took part in the consultation to have the opportunity to read it and check that

• the consultation activity has been described correctly

• their response has been accurately captured

• there are no significant factual errors or things that have been missed out.

There will be a webinar at 2-3pm on 21st May to explain the report and answer questions. This will be recorded and will be available afterwards for those unable to attend. You can register here from 13th May.

People will be able to feedback their comments using a dedicated form, and all comments on the content of the report will be considered before the report is finalised. The form can be found here and will open on the morning of 18th May.

It is important to note that this is not an extension to the consultation. The consultation has closed and no new responses can be accepted.

Following this, the final report will be published on 9th June. Before the final decision is made, commissioners will consider the feedback provided in the report and investigate any alternatives, additional suggestions and mitigations that could improve the proposals for patients. The commissioners will weigh up all the evidence as well as the risk of closure to the service as part of their decision-making process.

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From today (Monday 19 January), members of the public, patients, staff and stakeholders can share their views on proposals to relocate the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre to a new, purpose-built facility next to Watford General Hospital, managed by University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH).

Today’s launch of the public consultation comes after an announcement earlier this month which set out a plan to secure the future of specialist cancer services for more than two million people, around half of who live in the East of England.

With plans already approved for a new Watford General Hospital, this proposal, if approved after the consultation, would add world class cancer services to the site, creating a centre of excellence in Watford.

Simon Wood, Programme Leader for NHS England in the East of England, said:

“Securing a future for Mount Vernon is great news for patients in the region. These proposals would enable us to bring together two brilliant services to create a world-class centre of excellence.

“We now want to hear from patients, staff and other interested stakeholders on what benefits, as well as what challenges, this proposal may bring.”

Modern cancer care increasingly relies on the support of a range of on-site medical and surgical services, including Accident and Emergency and critical care. Therefore the new, purpose-built cancer centre would provide all of that essential access in modern facilities, along with more space for innovation, research and training. It would continue to serve patients across Hertfordshire, north west London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and east Berkshire.

The proposals for Mount Vernon Cancer Centre have been drawn up over the last few years with the help of patients and staff following an independent review that found specialised cancer services would not be able to continue at the existing site. The lack of other key support services has limited the number of patients the centre can treat and has led to some trials and treatments no longer being offered to patients.

Extending the scope of the redevelopment of Watford General Hospital to include the cancer centre means efficiencies could be made through joint construction, project and other arrangements to reduce the individual cost of both hospitals and thereby deliver the extended scope without increasing the overall cost to taxpayers.

Subject to the outcome of consultation and satisfactory completion of the necessary due diligence, the management of the services provided by Mount Vernon Cancer Centre would transfer from East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust to University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH).

Matthew Coats, chief executive of West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said:

“Expanding the Watford General scheme to include Mount Vernon Cancer Centre would be a major step forward in delivering both a world class cancer centre and a state-of-the-art hospital, which would benefit patients, our communities and our brilliant staff.

“We’re very grateful for the partnership with UCLH, a world-leading healthcare organisation, and other NHS partners who we are delighted to work with on what we believe to be a flagship opportunity to bring to life the ambitions in the 10-year plan.”

David Probert, chief executive at UCLH, said:

“We are delighted that funding has now been agreed for the proposal to relocate Mount Vernon Cancer Centre to a new purpose-built facility in Watford. We look forward to working with West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and other partners following the outcome of the consultation, to deliver a long-awaited and sustainable future for this important centre.”

The online consultation can be found on the Mount Vernon Cancer Services Review website (mvccreview.nhs.uk) and will close on Sunday 29 March 2026. There will be both online and in-person opportunities to take part.

Proposals to relocate Mount Vernon Cancer Centre to a new world class facility at Watford General Hospital set for public consultation

Plans to secure the future of specialist cancer services for more than two million people in the East of England and beyond have moved a step closer, with agreement on how to fund the capital for a new cancer centre paving the way for a public consultation later this month.

Between 19 January 2026 and 29 March 2026, patients, staff, key stakeholders and the public will be invited to share their views on proposals to relocate the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre to a new, purpose-built facility next to Watford General Hospital.

With plans already approved for a new Watford General Hospital, this proposal, if approved after public consultation, would add world class cancer services to the site, creating a centre of excellence in Watford.

Modern cancer care increasingly relies on the support of a range of on-site medical and surgical services, including Accident and Emergency and critical care. Therefore the new, purpose-built cancer centre would provide all of that essential access in modern facilities, along with more space for innovation, research and training. It would continue to serve patients across Hertfordshire, north west London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and east Berkshire.

Proposals include expanding chemotherapy, diagnostics and follow-up care in local hospitals, increasing chemotherapy at home, and reducing the need for patients to travel long distances for routine appointments. There will also be an option to locate a second radiotherapy unit at either Luton and Dunstable Hospital or Lister Hospital in Stevenage. This would be in addition to radiotherapy at the main cancer centre and would improve access to radiotherapy for patients living in the north of the area currently served by Mount Vernon Cancer Centre.

The proposals for Mount Vernon Cancer Centre have been drawn up over the last few years with the help of patients and staff following an independent review that found specialised cancer services would not be able to continue at the existing site. This has limited the number of patients the centre can treat and has led to some trials and treatments no longer being offered to patients.

Clare Panniker, Regional Director of NHS England in the East of England, said: “Mount Vernon Cancer Centre has a proud history and an exceptional team, but the facilities no longer meet the needs of today’s complex cancer care.

“These proposals would enable us to bring together two brilliant services to create a world-class centre of excellence, serving local communities with high-quality healthcare delivered by the same compassionate staff, for decades to come.”

Extending the scope of the redevelopment of Watford General Hospital to include the cancer centre means efficiencies could be made through joint construction, project and other arrangements to reduce the individual cost of both hospitals and thereby deliver the extended scope without increasing the overall cost to taxpayers.

Subject to the outcome of consultation and satisfactory completion of the necessary due diligence, the management of the services provided by Mount Vernon Cancer Centre would transfer from East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust to University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH).

Work is already underway on a £12m programme of enabling works at Watford General Hospital to clear the site ahead of the main hospital building. The agreement that the cancer centre could be incorporated into the scheme to redevelop Watford General Hospital will enable rapid progress on detailed design work. The final timetable for delivery of the combined scheme will be considered after the consultation period.

Matthew Coats, chief executive of West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Expanding the Watford General scheme to include Mount Vernon Cancer Centre would be a major step forward in delivering both a world class cancer centre and a state-of-the-art hospital, which would benefit patients, our communities and our brilliant staff.

“We’re very grateful for the partnership with UCLH, a world-leading healthcare organisation, and other NHS partners who we are delighted to work with on what we believe to be a flagship opportunity to bring to life the ambitions in the 10-year plan.”

Adam Sewell-Jones, chief executive at East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust, said: "Our staff at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre deliver outstanding care, and a new cancer centre would allow them to provide the most modern, innovative treatments. Continuity and quality of care for our patients and staff remains our highest priority. We will also ensure there will be plenty of opportunities for patients and staff to ask questions about the proposals and express their views.”

David Probert, chief executive at UCLH, said: “We are delighted that funding has now been agreed for the proposal to relocate Mount Vernon Cancer Centre to a new purpose-built facility in Watford. We look forward to working with West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and other partners following the outcome of the consultation, to deliver a long-awaited and sustainable future for this important centre.”

A Pre-Consultation Business Case and consultation materials have been finalised as part of NHS England’s assurance process. The public consultation will open on 19 January until 29 March 2026 with both online and in-person opportunities to take part.

Following the recent Government spending review and as part of the approval process to go to public consultation, we have been asked to explore opportunities for further integration with the Watford General Hospital scheme and some alternative sources of capital.

We are working quickly to explore the level of joint working that may be possible and the financing options that could now be available, before completing the approval process to launch the consultation as soon as we are able to.

The proposal remains to relocate the cancer centre to new, purpose-built facilities on the Watford General Hospital site, run by UCLH, with a network of services in local hospitals providing more care closer to home. This is necessary because services at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre are not sustainable in their current form.

The recent spending review presents an opportunity to explore a range of financing options which might help unlock the funding needed for the relocation of the cancer centre

We need to quickly explore these possibilities to see how they might work before we carry out a public consultation.

While this may change the expected consultation timeline, it represents a positive step. If successful, this could enable a more deliverable proposal and help us move more quickly towards construction of the new centre.

We remain committed to engaging patients, staff, and communities in shaping the future of cancer care.

Confirmation that the redevelopment of Watford General Hospital is going ahead as part of the New Hospital Programme is positive news for patients, staff, and for the redevelopment of the nearby Mount Vernon Cancer Centre.

This certainty means we can begin our public consultation this year on proposals to relocate Mount Vernon Cancer Centre onto the Watford General Hospital site in the future.

We are working closely with the teams at Watford General and University College London Hospital (UCLH) to progress the redevelopment plans. Alongside that, we are also working in a number of areas to improve services in the short term, measures that will support better care for our cancer patients before the redevelopment happens. The first of these improvements is an integrated acute oncology service at Watford, providing rapid care for patients with acute cancer related problems or treatment related emergencies, which will be operational this year.

The funding for the proposed relocation of Mount Vernon Cancer Centre was never part of the New Hospitals Programme and was not expected to be included in this review. NHSE are continuing to explore viable funding options for the redevelopment with our partners at pace and our decision to progress to a public consultation is a strong indication of the commitment to providing safe, high quality and accessible specialised cancer care for the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre population.

Note: Currently patients who cannot be admitted to Mount Vernon Cancer Centre or need to be transferred to an acute hospital due to the lack of acute services on the current site, are usually treated at Watford General Hospital as the nearest acute hospital. The integrated acute oncology service will work with patients experiencing acute cancer related problems or treatment related emergencies whether they are newly diagnosed, have a known cancer diagnosis or are already receiving treatment.

At this week’s national Strategy, Planning and Investment Committee, it was agreed that public consultation could go ahead on proposals to relocate MVCC. This is subject to the normal NHS England assurance processes for schemes requiring public consultation.

This follows news last year that proposals to relocate Mount Vernon Cancer Centre had not been selected to join the New Hospitals Programme, work has continued to discuss possible ways to meet the urgent need to re-provide MVCC services on an acute hospital site.

NHS England’s Chief Finance Officer has provided a commitment in writing to work jointly with commissioning teams to identify the necessary local and national money for the scheme which has been confirmed as a regional priority. The scheme will still require capital funding to be made available before building could begin.

Read more: MVCC Stakeholder Update May 2024

The relocation of Mount Vernon Cancer Centre has not been included in the announcement of New Hospitals Programme schemes (25th May 2023). However, we have been having extremely constructive conversations with the national team in order to reach a conclusion.

It is widely accepted there is an urgent need to re-provide Mount Vernon cancer services on an acute hospital site, and it remains the preferred long-term option, and the right one for patients.

The dedicated staff at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre have been working extremely hard over many years to maintain services despite challenges of poor buildings and a lack of other medical facilities on the same site. The team will keep doing their best for their patients, and to provide support to cancer services at other hospitals.

We will keep working together with our partners - East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, NHS England and UCLH, with patients, carers, staff, Healthwatch, the Cancer Alliances, the new Integrated Care Boards, and other organisations providing cancer care, to ensure patients can access the care and treatment they need, whilst continuing to work with national colleagues on the long-term future.

In addition to this statement, UCLH has reconfirmed its commitment to working with us to find a capital solution to improve MVCC. UCLH has been working for a number of years with NHS England and East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust to support the delivery of high-quality cancer services from Mount Vernon Cancer Centre and to develop plans for a new MVCC on an acute site. Discussions are ongoing about other routes to capital funding for a new centre, and UCLH remains committed to working with all partners to find a capital solution to improve MVCC for patients and staff.

You can find the Secretary of State for Health's full statement here: Health and Social Care Secretary Oral Statement on NHP - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

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