17 August 2022
Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital and Children’s Hospital Projects

1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime.

However, the East of England is one of the very few regions without a specialist cancer hospital.

That’s why, throughout my time as an MP (and in my previous roles as a Health Minister and as Minister for Science, Research and Innovation), I have always actively campaigned for increased support for those facing this terrible disease, along with greater funding and resources for the research into how we can save more and more lives.

As part of that ongoing work, I was delighted to add my voice to those of a number of parliamentary colleagues from across the region and call for a new specialist cancer hospital – one that would significantly level up healthcare in this part of the world and deliver high quality, patient led care, as well as one that (by being situated on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus) can draw upon the wealth of co-located research and technology to detect cancer cases earlier and provide personalised precision treatment.

Such a facility would also allow the creation of many other regional hubs and clinical networks here in the East, with the aim of providing care for patients much closer to their own homes – in addition to strengthening the cancer workforce and boosting the support that will help so many for generations to come.

I welcome the news therefore that the Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital (CCRH) project has now been given the greenlight to seek a construction partner.

Having received the approval for the first stage of its business case (the Strategic Outline Case) from DHSC, NHS England and NHS Improvement back in November 2021, the CCRH project gained backing as part of the Government’s commitment to build 40 new hospitals by 2030. This latest progress means that the scheme can move forward again and seek Expressions of Interest from the construction industry – with the Outline Business Case expected to be submitted later this year, and with construction hoped to begin in late 2023.

This is excellent news for our region and I am proud to be working with parliamentary colleagues to ensure this hugely beneficial asset is delivered as swiftly as possible – so that cancer treatment here in the East is the very best it possibly can be.

Having spoken to key stakeholders, I am told that plans for the Cambridge Children’s Hospital project (which aims to address the lack of a specialist children’s hospital in the East too) are also moving apace – with the Outline Business Case for that also due to be submitted later this year.

Again, this would be a significant step forward for healthcare in our region and I remain firmly committed to supporting partners so that we can get it built and in operation as quickly as possible.

To date up to date with all of my work on these issues, please do continue to check my website for updates.