 |
| NHS Seeks Public Input on South East Children's Cancer Center Site Selection |
The NHS is currently seeking input from the public regarding the future location of children's cancer services in south London and the South East. Presently, treatment for patients aged 15 and under is offered at The Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton and St George's Hospital in Tooting.
A proposal has been put forward suggesting that future care for these young patients could be provided at either St George's Hospital or Evelina London Children's Hospital in Lambeth. These services currently cater to around 1,400 children hailing from south London, Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, Kent and Medway, as well as a significant portion of Surrey.
In 2021, new regulations were implemented, specifying that highly specialized cancer treatment services for children should be co-located with a level three children's intensive care unit. The Royal Marsden Hospital, however, lacks such a facility.
Dr. Chris Streather, the medical director for NHS England, emphasized the impressive history of The Royal Marsden in delivering top-notch care to children. However, he noted that the rapid advancements in children's cancer treatment necessitate a move toward integration with intensive care to ensure future readiness. The new center, he pointed out, would be well-equipped to provide groundbreaking life-saving treatments that are currently not feasible under the existing setup.
Dr. Streather has expressed a keen interest in receiving feedback from children, families, and healthcare staff during the 12-week consultation period.
Ashley Ball-Gamble, the chief executive of the charity Children's Cancer and Leukemia Group, shared that regardless of the chosen location, the proposed changes would consolidate all essential services into a single location, offering a more streamlined experience for children and their families, while maintaining the high quality of care.
It is important to note that these proposed changes exclusively impact highly specialized cancer services already available in London. Children receiving other forms of cancer treatment in regional centers like Brighton will continue to do so in the foreseeable future.
Post a Comment