NHS calls for public feedback on Mount Vernon Cancer Centre relocation

By Alexa Hornbeck | Published: 21-Jan-2026
Design & Build NHS

NHS England has launched a public consultation on proposals to relocate Mount Vernon Cancer Centre to a new purpose-built facility at Watford General Hospital

NHS England has opened a public consultation on proposals to relocate the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre.

The relocation will be to a new facility at Watford General Hospital, which is managed by University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH).

“We now want to hear from patients, staff and other interested stakeholders on what benefits, as well as what challenges, this proposal may bring,” said Simon Wood, Programme Leader for NHS England in the East of England.

Mount Vernon Cancer Centre delivers specialist cancer services for more than 2 million people across the East of England. 

Modern cancer treatments increasingly depend on immediate access to a full range of acute hospital services, from emergency and critical care to on-site diagnostics and surgical support. 

The current standalone site in Northwood can no longer provide this effectively, and some services have already moved elsewhere.

An independent clinical review found that specialised cancer services cannot be sustained long-term at the current Mount Vernon site, not only due to ageing buildings but also because essential support services are not co-located.

What is being proposed?

The main proposal is to build a new, purpose-built Mount Vernon Cancer Centre next to Watford General Hospital, with the aim of bringing specialist cancer services together on an acute hospital site with access to the full range of clinical support.

Alongside this, the proposal includes:

  • More specialised cancer care closer to home, with more chemotherapy, diagnostics and follow-up care provided in local hospitals such as Northwick Park and Hillingdon
  • More treatment delivered at home, including some chemotherapy
  • A possible second radiotherapy unit at either Lister Hospital in Stevenage or Luton and Dunstable Hospital

These plans aim to reduce long journeys for routine care while aligning specialist treatment with the broader network of cancer services. 

How to submit feedback on the proposal 

The online consultation can be found on the Mount Vernon Cancer Services Review website (mvccreview.nhs.uk) and will close on Sunday 29th March 2026. 

There are both online and in-person opportunities to take part:

  • Companies:
  • Watford General Hospital
  • NHS England
See more

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