Residents have been asked to have their say on a proposal that would see the relocation of the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in Northwood to a purpose-built facility next to Watford General Hospital.
The NHS trust responsible for Watford General has said that the move will “secure the future of specialist cancer services for more than two million people in the East of England and beyond”.
Chief Executive of West Herts Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Matthew Coats and Watford MP Matt Turmaine at this week’s Mount Vernon Cancer Centre public consultation launch. (Image: Supplied by Matt Turmaine MP)
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.”
Watford General Hospital. (Image: Supplied)
The consultation launched on Monday (January 19) and will run until March 29, with patients, staff, key stakeholders and the public invited to share their views.
Plans have been drawn up in recent years following an independent review that the trust says found specialised cancer services would not be able to continue at the existing site, limiting the number of patients that can be treated.
The move has been welcomed by Watford MP Matt Turmaine, who said: “I was very pleased to be invited to attend the informative consultation launch. It is no exaggeration to say that the relocation to a new purpose-built facility represents a once in a generation opportunity to improve health care locally.
“Mount Vernon is a standalone facility, but modern medicine means that the cancer services are evolving. The needs of cancer patients have become increasingly complex over the last 30 years and now, providing the best possible care requires treatment to be located adjacent to hospitals with acute services such as an A&E and intensive care.
He added: “Clinicians, as I do, support the proposed move next to Watford General which has the facilities needed on site and is itself to be rebuilt. This is a positive and necessary change for the better. The Watford site literally ticks all the boxes in terms of all the criteria for improved patient care and outcomes.”
You can view more details on the proposal and take part in the consultation by visiting https://mvccreview.nhs.uk/