Watford General new Cancer Centre proposal called a 'national priority'

Watford General Hospital is set to be given a new 'world-class' cancer centre after the decision to relocate from Mount Vernon was confirmed last week.

The NHS have declared the relocation of a 'world-class' cancer centre from Mount Vernon to Watford General Hospital as a 'national priority' after plans to make travel and waiting times for appointments shorter for all patients. 

The plans have been put in place to prioritise the people of West Hertfordshire, North West London and the surrounding areas, including Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and East Berkshire and ensure that people have access to cancer treatment and the supporting services that come alongside it. These proposals also include outreach services to other local hospitals, with Mount Vernon assuring all that 'proposals have been based on clinical need, patient safety and access analysis.' 

The centre will include facilities for chemotherapy, as well as providing more support for those wishing to do chemotherapy at home. The relocation into a more accessible place would help eliminate long journeys for routine appointments. A review of the current site in Mount Vernon in 2019 states that there is no access to intensive care or emergency support, and specialist upgrades are overdue. 

Regional Director of NHS England (East of England) Clare Panniker stated that the facilities at Mount Vernon '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.' 

This already comes after plans to refurb and build a new Watford General Hospital entirely, complete with a range of on-site medical services, including an upgrade to the current-controversial Accident and Emergency critical care. These works are already underway with a £12m programme of preparing and clearing the site for demoliition and construction to the main hospital building. 

An exact date of when the new cancer centre is expected for completion is still unknown.