Councillors back Luton radiotherapy unit in cancer centre consultation
Basing a radiotherapy unit at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital, along with the relocation of Mount Vernon Cancer Centre to Watford, would provide the best available access for the town’s residents, a meeting heard.
A consultation process is seeking responses about the transfer of the cancer centre to the Watford General Hospital site, including diagnostics, radiotherapy, systemic anti-cancer therapy and supportive services.
A response that “puts Luton residents and patients at the centre of the decision” was recommended to Luton Borough Council’s scrutiny health and social care review group.
A networked radiotherapy unit could be provided at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital or at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage.
LBC’s director of public health Kelly O’Neill told the committee: “Five per cent of those people accessing services at Mount Vernon are from Luton.
“The current facilities need to be changed, as it’s not fit for purpose and can’t deliver the advancement in technology needed to treat current cancers,” she warned.
“Services need to be located next to an acute hospital provision, covering emergency medical interventions, cardiology, and accident and emergency.
“The current commissioners East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust aim to relocate the service to a dedicated site adjacent to Watford General Hospital, closest to the current Mount Vernon premises.
“There are three options:
- to transfer the care centre to that hospital location in Watford;
- to move to the same site and have a networked radiotherapy unit at the Lister Hospital in Stevenage;
- or to relocate cancer care on the Watford site, but install the radiotherapy unit at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital.
“There’s no other choice to locating the main site at Watford. It would be on the grounds of the current hospital. The options are purely as to the other unit, which would make it easier if it’s based at the Luton and Dunstable.
“Radiotherapy is one of those cancer treatments for which people have to travel every day for up to six weeks and it’s a long trek when you’re receiving that level of care. The third of these options is the only one which delivers the best access for Luton residents.”
Liberal Democrat Sundon Park councillor Steve Moore said: “None of the options are particularly well served by public transport.
“The travel times in the consultation document don’t reflect those patients who can’t drive there.”
Ms O’Neill explained: “There’s some dedicated transport to access Mount Vernon. But if you travel there daily over a six-week period, then it’s exhausting. It’s easier getting to Watford than to Northwood.”
Labour Central councillor Fatima Begum wondered what chance is there of Luton and Dunstable being chosen, and when this would be operational if selected.
Ms O’Neill replied: “There’s no guarantee that the outcome we want will be the one delivered, as the consultation clearly states ‘the commissioners are open to all considerations’.
“The running and the responsibility of the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre would move from the East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust to specialist cancer services. That’s a positive being able to fit into the national system of cancer centres.”
Councillors agreed to support the third option in an LBC consultation response.