Council leaders condemn removal of children’s cancer care from St George’s

Council leaders from across south west London and Surrey have condemned the announcement by NHS managers that children’s cancer services are to be removed from Tooting’s St George’s Hospital. 

The NHS have confirmed that paediatric cancer treatments are to end at St George’s and instead be provided at the Evelina Hospital in central London.

The cross-party group of council leaders from all three main parties – Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative - say the decision is short-sighted, goes against parents’ wishes and risks the loss of clinical expertise built up over 25 years at St George’s. They also have serious concerns about potential travel difficulties for child cancer patients and their families due to the Evelina’s location in central London. 

The council leaders have jointly written to the Health Secretary urging her to reverse the decision. 

Cllr Gareth Roberts, Leader of Richmond Council, said: “We are incredibly disappointed at the NHS’s decision to move the cancer care unit at St George’s to central London despite overwhelming opposition from families. 

“We are working with our colleagues across south west London and Surrey to urge the NHS and government to reconsider and keep vital children’s cancer care services in south west London.” 

St George’s supports child patients from across south west London, Surrey, Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, Kent and Medway.