The Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to discuss the proposed relocation of the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC) and the future management of the centre. The committee was also set to review the terms of reference for the committee itself and outline its work programme.

Mount Vernon Cancer Centre Relocation Case for Change

A significant portion of the meeting was scheduled to focus on the proposed relocation of the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC). The report pack outlined the case for change, highlighting concerns about the sustainability of current services. Key drivers for change included issues related to quality and patient safety, the condition of existing buildings, and opportunities for service improvement.

The report detailed that the current MVCC site has buildings over 100 years old, with a significant backlog of maintenance. Clinically, the site is described as lacking the necessary integrated services, such as critical care and high dependency units, to support modern cancer treatments, particularly newer drugs with higher toxicity profiles. This has led to patients being transferred to other hospitals, impacting the continuity of care and potentially increasing travel burdens for patients and their families. The report also noted that services for blood cancers had already ceased at MVCC due to these limitations.

The proposals for consultation centre on relocating MVCC to an acute hospital site, with Watford General Hospital identified as the preferred option. This move is intended to address the clinical and estate challenges, improve patient outcomes by potentially reducing travel times for the majority of patients, and address health inequalities. The relocation also presents an opportunity to repatriate haemato-oncology services. The estimated capital cost for these proposals is £465 million.

Mount Vernon Cancer Centre Reprovision – Co-location of Services at Watford Hospital Site

The committee was also scheduled to consider the importance of co-locating cancer clinical services, a key aspect of the case for change. The report highlighted that advances in cancer treatment and rising incidence necessitate a different approach to care delivery. The current MVCC location is seen as not conducive to accessing specialist input from other clinical disciplines, such as cardiology or respiratory teams, which are increasingly required to manage treatment side effects.

The report outlined the essential elements for a cancer centre to effectively care for its patients, including 24-hour inpatient emergency access to acute medical and surgical teams, on-site critical care outreach, and immediate access to support pathological services. It also detailed the need for outpatient access to a wide range of clinical specialties and rapid access to physiotherapy. The co-location at Watford General Hospital aims to address these requirements.

Mount Vernon Cancer Centre – Future Management by University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The meeting was also set to address the future management of MVCC by University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH). UCLH was selected in 2020 as the preferred provider to manage MVCC services. The report indicated that the reprovision proposals assume the future centre will be built, owned, and run by UCLH. A final decision on the transfer of management to UCLH is contingent on several factors, including a funded plan for a sustainable future for the service.

The report explained that the recommendation for a specialist provider to manage MVCC stemmed from an independent clinical review, which found that the centre needed to be run by an organisation with expertise in specialist cancer services. UCLH was chosen following a competitive selection process that assessed providers on their experience in delivering tertiary cancer services, research excellence, and patient experience. The report clarified that the transfer of management is not about moving services to UCLH's main location in central London, but rather about enhancing the specialist care provided at MVCC.

How JHOSC Will Scrutinise NHSE Consultation Process

The committee was also scheduled to review the proposed approach for health overview and scrutiny of the consultation process regarding the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre. A comprehensive consultation plan was being developed to assess the quality of engagement with patients and residents across the MVCC catchment area.

The report outlined a process for scrutinising the consultation, which had been informally agreed by the chairs of participating Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees. This process includes a workshop to help shape the consultation plan and documentation. The objectives of the consultation strategy and plan include meeting statutory duties, gathering feedback from patients, staff, and stakeholders, and ensuring a mix of quantitative and qualitative feedback. The Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) has been established to oversee this scrutiny, comprising 17 members from ten local authorities. NHS England, leading the consultation, is expected to attend JHOSC meetings to discuss various aspects of the process.

Terms of Reference

The committee was also scheduled to review its own Terms of Reference (TORs). The report provided the TORs for the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre JHOSC, which has delegated powers from ten local authorities to undertake health scrutiny functions related to the consultation proposals for services at MVCC. The objectives include ensuring the needs of current patients and residents are considered. The TORs also outline protocols for working, membership, chairing, voting, and standing orders, with Hertfordshire County Council acting as the lead administrative local authority.

Work Programme Outline

Finally, the committee was scheduled to consider an outline of its work programme. This would likely detail the planned activities and focus areas for the committee in its role of scrutinising health services.