Cancer Services
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital is a dedicated Cancer Unit, recognised by the ‘European Society for Medical Oncology’ as a designated Centre of integrated Oncology and Palliative Care. All of our cancer services are delivered in line with the national Manual for Cancer Services standards and we are assessed annually to ensure we are delivering a high standard of care.
We care for approximately 800 new cancer patients every year from those newly diagnosed through to patients requiring palliative care. Patients with suspected cancer are seen on an urgent basis within two weeks of a GP referral in line with Government targets. You can view Chelsea and Westminster's Cancer Waiting times here.
We work in close partnership with other nearby local Cancer Centres such as Charing Cross and the Royal Marsden Hospital.
The cancer service is led by Consultant Oncologists, Professor Mark Bower and Dr Cathryn Brock with the palliative care service led by Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Dr Sarah Cox. The Haematology Service is led by Dr Helen Yarranton and Dr Francis Matthey. The cancer services team is supported by the lead cancer manager, Dominic Clarke and lead nurse, Catherine Gillespie.
In addition the team consists of a wide range of health professionals and professionals allied to medicine including Clinical Nurse Specialists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Dieticians, Multidisciplinary Team Coordinators and psychological support staff.
The Cancer Services Team works closely with medical and nursing teams in HIV, gynaecology, urology, upper and lower GI tract, paediatrics, respirology (lung) and haematology within the hospital as well as community services and local primary care groups to provide the best possible integrated care and treatment for our cancer patients.
Chelsea and Westminster has become a leading UK centre for the treatment of HIV-related cancers including lymphoma, Kaposi’s Sarcoma and anal cancer. Patients are seen in weekly clinics by Professor Bower and his colleagues.
Within the Medical Day Unit, you will also find our award-winning cancer information and support centre, The Macmillan Centre, where you can receive free information, support and complementary therapies such as massage, reflexology and aromatherapy.
The team endeavor to deliver multi-disciplinary care and there are a number of clinics that offer the opportunity to see a number of specialists at one time. Day care chemotherapy is administered either in the medical day unit or Kobler Day Care whilst inpatient chemotherapy is administered on Ron Johnson Ward.
For more information on our Palliative Care service, see Directorate of Anaesthetics and Imaging.
