Have your say on proposals to relocate Mount Vernon Cancer Centre – local dates announced

People across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and surrounding areas have been invited to have their say on proposals to relocate Mount Vernon Cancer Centre to a new, purpose-built facility in Watford – with an option for a further specialist unit, potentially in Luton.

The public consultation, which runs until 29 March 2026, gives residents, patients, carers, NHS staff and local stakeholders the opportunity to comment on plans designed to secure the long-term future of specialist cancer services for more than two million people, including many from Bedfordshire and Luton.

As part of the consultation, two in-person public meetings will take place this month, giving local people the chance to hear more about the proposals, ask questions and share their views face to face.  Interested residents are strongly encouraged to register and attend.

The proposals follow an announcement in January, setting out plans to bring Mount Vernon Cancer Centre together with the new Watford General Hospital, creating a modern centre of excellence for cancer care, if approved following consultation.

A key part of the consultation is the option for a second radiotherapy unit at either Luton and Dunstable Hospital or Lister Hospital, Stevenage.  This would be in addition to radiotherapy at the new main centre and would improve access for people living in the north of the current Mount Vernon catchment area.

Dr Rory Harvey, Consultant Gastroenterologist and Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB Cancer Clinical Lead, said:

“Securing a sustainable future for Mount Vernon Cancer Centre is vitally important for patients across our region, including those living in Bedfordshire and Luton.

We want to hear directly from local communities about what these proposals could mean for them, which is why taking part in the consultation and attending events like the public meetings in Flitwick and Luton is so important.

“Modern cancer care increasingly depends on access to a wide range of on-site services, such as accident and emergency, critical care and specialist surgery.  Relocating to a new, purpose-built facility would allow Mount Vernon Cancer Centre to offer these services in one place, alongside improved facilities for research, training and innovation. The proposal includes a satellite radiotherapy unit, with the opportunity to locate this on the Luton and Dunstable Hospital site.

“I would like people to use the public meetings to understand more about the proposals and to give strong support to the development of the satellite unit in Luton.  This would hugely improve access to key cancer treatments for our patients.”

The proposals have been developed over several years with input from patients and staff, following an independent review which found that specialised cancer services could not continue long-term at the existing Mount Vernon site.  Limitations at the current location have already meant some treatments and clinical trials are no longer available.

The online consultation is available at mvccreview.nhs.uk and will run until Sunday 29 March 2026.  A series of online focus groups is being held and a questionnaire is also available.

Alongside online feedback, in-person events have been announced this month for both Flitwick and Luton:

• Flitwick: Tuesday 10 February, 10.30 am to 12.00 noon: Rufus Centre, Steppingley Road, Flitwick
• Luton: Saturday 21 February, 10.30 am to 12.00 noon: Luton Campus, Park Square, Luton