The NHS is consulting on plans to move the Cancer Centre at Mount Vernon Hospital to Watford General. At the same time, the Labour Government has delayed the rebuild of its proposed new home. While I welcome the opportunity for residents to have their say, I fail to see a tangible purpose to the consultation when there is no capacity at Watford General to fulfil the outlined proposals. With such uncertainty, I am concerned about the unnecessary distress this is causing, especially for patients currently undergoing treatment at Mount Vernon. In terms of the move itself, I do not want to see the loss of accessible cancer care for patients in my constituency, and I will be making this clear in representations to the NHS.
Staying with Mount Vernon, I recently had the pleasure of visiting Michael Sobell Hospice. This is just one example of the many vital services at the hospital site, and I welcomed the opportunity to hear more about their work. I also had the chance to speak with one of the families visiting a loved one at the unit. It evident that the care and support provided is of enormous value and comfort to patients and their families at what is an extremely difficult time.
I am also pleased to announce that I will be fundraising for the Michael Sobell Hospice at this year’s London Marathon. This service is invaluable to residents across the constituency and beyond, and I am proud to be able to offer my support. Further details can be found on my website.
Lastly, I am grateful to Rabbis Aaron Goldstein and Andrea Kulikovsky for welcoming me to the Ark Synagogue in Northwood. We had a useful discussion about the priorities for – and issues facing – the Jewish community, both in Northwood and more widely. I was also pleased to receive positive feedback about local police teams, who are offering crucial reassurance at this volatile time.
First published: My Local News (Northwood), March 2026
