The Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday, 2nd April 2026, to discuss several key healthcare initiatives. The meeting included updates on the relocation of the Children's Cancer Principal Treatment Centre, the establishment of a collaborative group between Medway NHS Foundation Trust and Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, and the reconfiguration of stroke services in East Kent. Additionally, the committee reviewed the transformation of community services and the Neighbourhood Health Model for Kent and Medway, and discussed the committee's work programme.

Children's Cancer Principal Treatment Centre Relocation

The committee received an update on the relocation of the Children's Cancer Principal Treatment Centre (PTC) from The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to Evelina London Children's Hospital. This move is in line with national service specifications requiring the centre to be co-located with a paediatric intensive care unit. Professor Avi Bhatia, Chief Nurse at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, Dr. Sarah Hanna, Medical Director and Clinical Lead for the Children's Cancer Principal Treatment Centre Program at Evelina London, and Trish Gray, Program Manager and Lead for Patient and Public at Evelina London, provided details on the progress of the transfer.

The relocation aims to improve care by bringing specialist services together on one site, enhancing access to other specialist services within Evelina London's children's hospital, and potentially enabling groundbreaking treatments. Construction of new facilities, including an inpatient ward, day care unit, and outpatient department, is progressing. Significant engagement with patients and families has informed the design of these spaces, with a focus on creating a comfortable and supportive environment. Artwork for the new areas has been developed in collaboration with children and families, incorporating themes of nature and space.

Practical support for families, including dedicated parking, updated accommodation policies, and improved wayfinding, is being implemented. The workforce transition is being managed through recruitment and training plans, with extensive engagement with existing staff to address concerns about travel and flexible working. Clinical pathways for various specialities, including diagnostic imaging, pathology, bone marrow transplants, surgery, neuro-oncology, leukaemia and lymphoma, palliative care, and solid tumours, are being mapped and integrated. Radiotherapy services will be transferred to University College London Hospitals (UCLH), with upgrades to linear accelerators planned. Research integration is also a key focus, with ongoing work to ensure continuity of research activities.

Concerns were raised regarding the radiotherapy provision being at UCLH rather than co-located with the main treatment centre, and the fallback plans if specialist staff do not transfer. The speakers explained that the decision for radiotherapy to be at UCLH was based on existing infrastructure and workforce expertise in paediatric radiotherapy, and that robust plans are in place for staff recruitment and upskilling. The committee noted the report.

Establishment of a Group between Medway NHS Foundation Trust and Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust

The committee received an update on the establishment of a group model between Medway NHS Foundation Trust and Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust. Dr. Steve Fenlon, Deputy Chief Executive for Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, and John Golston, Chair of Medway NHS Foundation Trust, presented the case for closer collaboration.

The report highlighted that both trusts serve a combined population of approximately 800,000 people and face converging challenges, including rising demand, long waits for treatment, variations in clinical outcomes, staffing pressures, fragmented digital systems, limited capital investment, and significant deficits. The independent review recommended establishing a governance-backed group, allowing trusts to work under a shared leadership team while remaining separate statutory bodies.

Anticipated benefits include improved quality and consistency of care, enhanced patient outcomes, strengthened operational efficiency and resilience, expanded staff development opportunities, and accelerated performance improvement. The group model is aligned with national NHS strategic policies, including the NHS 10-Year Health Plan and the Provider Collaboration Guidance.

Concerns were raised about the continuity of leadership during a period of recruitment for new chief executives, the potential impact on patient care if agreements are not reached, and whether the proposed changes should be subject to public consultation. The speakers assured the committee that any major changes to services would be subject to public consultation and engagement, and that the group model is focused on demonstrating benefits to the population. The committee noted the report.

Reconfiguration of Stroke Services in East Kent

The committee received an update on the reconfiguration of stroke services in East Kent, presented by Kate Langford, Chief Medical Officer of NHS Kent and Medway. The plan involves transferring acute stroke services from Kent and Canterbury Hospital to a new, purpose-built unit at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford. This is the final phase of a countywide reconfiguration of acute stroke services.

The new unit at William Harvey Hospital will be a 54-bed facility designed for direct ambulance drop-off, with an on-unit CT scanner to save time. The temporary consolidation of services at Kent and Canterbury Hospital has already led to significant improvements, with East Kent Hospitals being recognised as the best-performing stroke service in the country by the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP).

Concerns were raised by councillors, including Cllr Stuart Jeffery, Alex Ricketts, and Cllr Palmer, regarding travel times for residents in Thanet and coastal areas, the potential impact on patient outcomes, and the cost of the reconfiguration. It was noted that while the new unit is further from Thanet, travel times remain within nationally recognised safe parameters, and the focus is on the speed and quality of specialist assessment and treatment upon arrival. The committee debated whether the move would improve or worsen patient outcomes, particularly for deprived communities.

A motion was proposed and seconded, recommending that Canterbury should be retained as the permanent East Kent Hyper-acute stroke unit, and that NHS Kent and Medway and NHS England should provide further clear evidence justifying the alternative model to William Harvey, including updated equality impact assessments and independent travel time assessments. The motion was passed unanimously, with one abstention.

Kent and Medway Community Services Transformation and Neighbourhood Health

Suk Singh, Director of Primary and Community Care, NHS Kent and Medway, and Dr. Ash Peshon, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for the ICB, presented the transformation priorities for community services and the evolving Neighbourhood Health Model. The new contract for community health services has been awarded to Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) as the Lead Provider.

The Neighbourhood Health Model aims to shift care from hospital to community settings, focusing on prevention and digital enablement. Services will be anchored in local neighbourhoods and aligned with Primary Care Networks (PCNs), with a focus on the highest-need 5% of the population. Key priorities for the first year include integrated frailty, dementia, and palliative and end-of-life care services, a 24/7 Neighbourhood Community Front Door, and a No Wrong Door approach.

Concerns were raised about the ambition of the plan and the integration with social care, particularly regarding the use of the Better Care Fund. The speakers explained that the current phase is about establishing foundations, with more ambitious plans for future years. They also detailed how the model aims to ensure adequate assessment of patients and support for rural communities. The committee noted the report.

Work Programme

The committee reviewed its proposed work programme for upcoming meetings. Oliver Bradshaw requested that the committee formally request a joint overview and scrutiny committee to investigate the meningitis outbreak. Alex Ricketts also requested an update on the handling of the meningitis outbreak in East Kent, including both positive and negative aspects. The committee acknowledged these requests and indicated that these topics would be considered once the situation had calmed down. The committee noted the work programme. The date of the next meeting was confirmed as Wednesday, 3rd June, at 10 a.m. in the Council Chamber.