Chartwell ward at Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH)

18 September 2025 - Following an internal review of inpatient cancer care provided on Chartwell ward at Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH), we are now developing proposals to improve how inpatient cancer care is delivered.

Currently, cancer inpatients at PRUH are cared for on the hospital’s 12-bedded Chartwell ward. The ward also treats patients with other conditions; it is not solely for cancer patients.

What proposals are being developed?

The proposals we are developing include bringing all haematology inpatient cancer care provided by the Trust together at King’s College Hospital in Camberwell.

In practical terms, this would mean haematology cancer inpatients currently cared for on Chartwell ward at the PRUH instead being treated at King’s College Hospital, a highly specialist centre for haematological conditions.

This change would support equity of access to specialist haematology cancer care for all Bromley patients, and also give patients faster access to cutting-edge treatments and the latest clinical trials.

The proposals we are developing would also build on existing arrangements, whereby some haematology cancer patients from the Bromley area who require highly specialist treatment are already transferred to King’s College Hospital for this aspect of their care.

Important: cancer services for all other cancer types, as well as outpatient cancer care, would remain at PRUH, and are not included in the proposals, although we will be looking at how we can deliver improvements to every part of the service as part of this work.

We would also like to make clear that, if we go ahead with the proposals set out above, Chartwell ward at the PRUH will continue to be used as a facility that supports patients with cancer, and between now and December, we will consider options for how it can best meet the needs of local people in the future.

Listening to patients, staff, and stakeholders

We will actively engage with patients, staff, and stakeholders as we continue to develop these proposals, and no final decisions have been made.

We fully appreciate the current service provided on Chartwell ward is highly regarded by local people, and we are grateful to staff on the ward for the care they provide.

This statement was originally published on 18 September, and subsequently updated on 7 October.