Changes to haematology cancer care at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH)
29 June 2026 - King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has today (Monday, 29 June) announced changes to haematology cancer care at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH).
The changes will involve bringing all specialist haematology inpatient cancer care provided by the Trust together at King’s College Hospital in Denmark Hill, and establishing a Haematology Day Unit at the PRUH.
Under the plans, Chartwell ward at the PRUH will become the Haematology Day Unit and provide a vital service for patients accessing emergency and planned haematology care at the hospital.
The decision to move forward with these changes follows a period of engagement with haematology patients, families and local stakeholders. Feedback received was carefully considered, alongside the case for change, as well as the impact on patients and staff.
What these changes mean for patients
Outpatient haematology care is not part of these changes, and will continue to be provided at PRUH in the same way as it is currently.
Urgent and emergency haematology care will also continue to be provided at the PRUH, and due to the creation of a dedicated Haematology Day Unit, patients will be seen more quickly.
However, patients needing specialist inpatient haematology care who are currently treated at the PRUH will instead be treated at King’s College Hospital, a specialist centre for the treatment of haematological conditions.
This change will support equity of access to specialist haematology cancer care for all local patients, and also give patients faster access to cutting-edge treatments and the latest clinical trials.
This change will also build on existing arrangements, whereby some haematology cancer patients from Bromley and other neighbouring areas who require highly specialist treatment are already transferred to King’s College Hospital for this aspect of their care.
As previously communicated, cancer services for all other cancer types, as well as outpatient cancer care, will remain at the PRUH, and are unaffected by the changes announced today.
Next steps
A date for when the changes will take effect will be communicated in due course, and there are no changes to haematology services at the PRUH for the time being.
A detailed implementation plan, including a full timeline for when the changes will take effect, is currently being developed and will be shared with patients and partner organisations in the near future. Our current aim is to make these changes operational by Autumn 2026.
The Trust is also working closely with staff during this transition period to help shape our implementation plan. We are also engaging with the small number of staff at the PRUH directly affected by these changes to support them through this process.
Listening to patients and local stakeholders
The changes set out today follow a period of engagement with haematology patients, families and local stakeholders.
This involved focus groups involving clinical team members, telephone interviews and surveys.
Dr Roopen Arya, Clinical Director for Haematological Medicine at the Trust, said:
“We believe these changes are better for patients and build on existing arrangements whereby patients in Bromley and nearby areas requiring specialist haematological care are already seen at King’s College Hospital, a specialist centre for haematological care.
“Haematological cancer care has advanced significantly in recent years, and the evidence shows that concentrating specialist inpatient care in specialist centres helps to improve clinical outcomes for patients.”
“The plans we have agreed will ensure the PRUH continues to provide emergency, planned, and outpatient haematology services, whilst specialist inpatient care will be delivered at King’s.
“From the engagement we have undertaken, it is clear that people care deeply about the service at the PRUH, and we are committed to maintaining vital services at the hospital, whilst also giving all patients equitable access to the latest healthcare and treatments available.”