Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Paediatric Cancer Strategy for London

Tuesday 17 October 2023 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • NHS England requires all paediatric cancer services to be co-located with a children's intensive care unit following Professor Sir Mike Richards's review.
  • The principal treatment centre for south London and the south-east does not meet the new requirements.
  • There will be no sudden changes in patient care during and after the reconfiguration, according to the Minister.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Stephen Hammond Con
NHS
Context

Professor Sir Mike Richards's review made national requirements for paediatric cancer services to be co-located with children's intensive care units. The current principal treatment centre in south London and the southeast does not meet these requirements.

Question

What recent progress has NHS England made on implementing its paediatric cancer strategy for London?

Answer from Will Quince

Following Professor Sir Mike Richards's review, it is now a national requirement for all paediatric cancer services to be co-located with a children's intensive care unit. The current principal treatment centre for south London and the south-east does not meet those requirements. NHS England has launched a reconfiguration process to identify a new location, which includes a public consultation.

Answered
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Q2 Stephen Hammond Con
NHS
Context

NHS England has initiated a reconfiguration process for paediatric cancer services in south London and the southeast, including a public consultation.

Question

I am grateful to the Minister for that offer, because that would have been part of my question. What assurances are there about patient care during and after this reconfiguration?

Answer from Will Quince

I thank my hon. Friend for his supplementary question. While I cannot pre-empt the outcome of the consultation, which closes on 18 December, I can assure him that there will be no sudden changes in the way patients receive their care. Any move will of course be carefully planned with the full involvement of current teams, and clear information will be provided for parents and families. NHS England will help as many experienced staff as possible to move to the future centre.

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