The Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee met on Tuesday 16 June 2026 to discuss the proposed relocation of the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC) and the findings of a public consultation on the matter. The committee agreed to support the relocation proposal, with specific recommendations for further action, and noted the proposed timeline for the Decision-Making Business Case.

Mount Vernon Cancer Centre Reprovision and Care Closer to Home

The committee received an update on the clinical case for relocating the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC) to a new purpose-built facility adjacent to Watford General Hospital. Dr Amy Guppy, Divisional Medical Director at MVCC, explained that the current site is unsustainable due to a lack of essential acute clinical services, which hinders the ability to treat complex cases and offer cutting-edge treatments and clinical trials. The public consultation, which ran from January to March 2026, revealed divided opinions, with 48% supporting the relocation and 42% opposing it. Key concerns raised by the public centred on travel, transport, parking, and accessibility to the proposed Watford site. Despite these concerns, the consultation feedback did not challenge the underlying clinical rationale for moving the centre to an acute hospital site.

The committee was presented with the core proposal to relocate MVCC to Watford General Hospital, with options for an additional networked radiotherapy unit at either Lister Hospital in Stevenage or Luton and Dunstable Hospital. The rationale for choosing Watford General Hospital was based on it being the only site that met essential clinical criteria while having the lowest overall impact on travel times for the population served.

Extensive discussion took place regarding the care closer to home elements of the proposal, which aim to reduce patient travel burden. These include increasing chemotherapy provision at Hillingdon and Northwick Park Hospitals, expanding chemotherapy at home services, and repatriating haematology services for Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire patients from UCLH to the new Watford centre. There was broad support for these initiatives, although concerns were raised about the capacity of local services and the need for seamless communication and data sharing.

The consultation report, which analysed feedback from over 3,000 participants, indicated that while support for the relocation was balanced, concerns about travel and accessibility were paramount. The report highlighted that respondents' views were strongly shaped by perceived changes in access, with support more likely where access was expected to improve and opposition more likely where it was expected to worsen. Clinicians generally supported the relocation, but also raised concerns about workforce capacity, digital integration, and system coordination.

The committee was asked to agree a formal response to the consultation. Councillor Chris Lloyd (Hertfordshire) proposed a more positive wording than the initial options presented, suggesting that the committee should not just be satisfied but should actively explore how to continue to engage and support the project. Councillor Wendy Rouse (Hertfordshire) agreed, emphasising the importance of maintaining a good working relationship with the NHS. The committee ultimately agreed to Option B, indicating broad satisfaction with the consultation process but recommending further actions to address outstanding concerns.

The committee also noted the proposed timeline for the Decision-Making Business Case (DMBC) phase, which aims to consolidate evidence, engage stakeholders, and incorporate JHOSC feedback before a final decision is made by the end of October 2026. Key areas of work include finance and activity modelling, clinical model development, workforce planning, impact assessments, and consultation analysis.

Election of Vice-Chair

Councillor Ekta Gohil was elected as the Vice-Chair of the Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

Minutes of the previous meeting

The minutes of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 13 March 2026 were confirmed.