Kids Deserve St George’s: children’s cancer services consultation
Children’s cancer services at St George’s Hospital
The future of children’s cancer services is changing as NHS England (London and South East regions) is deciding where a Principal Treatment Centre for children’s cancer services should be located.
This follows a national service specification in 2021, which sets out how children’s cancer services should be on the same site as a Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and other specialised children’s services.
St George’s has been part of the current Principal Treatment Centre, alongside the Royal Marsden Hospital, for more than 25 years and our children’s services are rated Outstanding by the CQC.
We are the only site in south London that has an existing relationship with and already delivers paediatric oncology care with our partners, The Royal Marsden.
We already provide most of the specialist paediatric services that really matter for children with cancer, including paediatric intensive care, neurosurgery and much more.
That’s why we believe,
#KidsDeserveStGeorges
We will keep this page updated with key information about the consultation and a link to it when it launches, so please do check back for updates. Alternatively, please email communications@stgeorges.nhs.uk and we can keep you informed of next steps.
In the meantime, you can read inspirational stories from some of our brave children with cancer and their families below.
Jackson
Jackson was diagnosed with T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia when he was just two years old in 2020. He was treated at St George’s and recently rang the end of treatment bell.
Samantha Hall, Jackson’s mum, said: “Thank you St George’s for being such a great hospital and to everyone who works there, you have made our journey so much easier to deal with because you’re the best team.”
Read his full story here Five-year-old leukaemia survivor reaches the end of treatment marking it ‘St Jackson’s Day’ – St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (stgeorges.nhs.uk)
Zoe
Zoe was treated at St George’s for Type 1 pleuropulmonary blastoma – a type of cancer that has affected fewer than 30 people worldwide – when she was just four years old.
She has now recovered and, now as a teenager, is using her experience to drive her into becoming a children’s nurse.
She said: “I’m so grateful to the paediatric staff at St George’s Hospital for looking after me, and for always being there for me throughout my life… thank you to the nurses who told me to follow my dreams and never give up.”
Read her full story here Rare cancer teen survivor inspired to be a nurse thanks to team who saved her life – St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (stgeorges.nhs.uk)
Patrick
Gerard McCarthy’s son, Patrick, was treated at St George’s for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
He said: “I can’t even put into words what St George’s paediatric oncology team did to help us during this difficult time. The people who work at St George’s, all of them, the doctors, the nurses, the playworkers, the people in the school, the staff, all of them are just immense.”
Read his full story here Young patient beats cancer for his birthday – St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (stgeorges.nhs.uk)
