Keep Cancer Services at Mount Vernon
Key issue: The risk of Cancer Centre being moved to Hertfordshire
The Campaign to keep Cancer Services at Mount Vernon. This cross party campaign, which I launched in partnership with Community Voice, mobilised over 80,000 people across Hillingdon, Harrow and Hertfordshire who fought plans to move the well supported Cancer Centre to Hertfordshire. We took the petition to the Minister and through parliamentary debates and meetings, I have kept the pressure up.
Key milestones:
- Feb 07 - cross party campaign launched by Nick Hurd in partnership with Community Voice.
- Dec 07 - 77,780 signature presented to Minister of Health.
Latest news:
A recent consultation exercise seemed to favour keeping the Cancer Centre at Mount Vernon. I am delighted to say that this was confirmed in a recent meeting with the Chairman and Chief Executive of East Herts Trust who run the Centre. They believe that the argument has been won in favour of investing in Mount Vernon as a centre of excellence, and I am reassured by their personal commitment.
Recent visitors to the hospital will be aware of the new treatment centre there and the investment that has gone in. This is good news but I will not be complacent and will continue to press for a clear, long term plan for this much-loved hospital site.
In April last year I invited Andrew Lansley, Shadow Secretary of State for Health, to visit Mount Vernon and see for himself the great work that is done there. During his visit he met with the Chairman and CEO of East Herts Trust who run the Cancer Centre, and Joan Davies who chairs Community Voice. From Joan he heard of the strength of local feeling in favour of keeping the cancer centre at Mount Vernon, reflected in the 77,780 signature that we presented to the Minister of Health.
