Plans to move blood cancer patients from the Chartwell Unit at Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) to King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, have unleashed a storm of protest. Healthwatch Bromley’s latest report reveals widespread frustration among patients and staff, fueling a petition smashing 30,000 signatures.
Patients Praise Care but Slam Long Waits and Poor Communication
Healthwatch Bromley volunteers surveyed patients last November and December 2025, gathering feedback from both Chartwell and King’s College’s haematology centre. The verdict? Mixed.
- 70% gave the Chartwell Unit a glowing “very good” rating, praising the “holistic nature” of care and staff’s “care and consideration.”
- Yet 65% blasted long waits to see doctors and frustrating delays in test results.
“Nurses are extremely busy, sometimes it is hard to get their attention. Some nurses can be abrupt. Long waiting time. Emotional and psychological support would be good from the start. You can ask for it, but it won’t be immediate,” revealed one Chartwell patient.
Communication with GPs was slammed as “poor,” piling on patient frustration. Parking woes also took a heavy toll. PRUH patients griped about pricey, hard-to-find parking spaces, while Denmark Hill offered none at all.
Healthwatch Demands Shuttle Service Between Hospitals
Parking emerged as a “major concern” and the “overwhelming negative theme” in feedback. Healthwatch Bromley is now calling for a shuttle bus linking PRUH and King’s College to ease patient and visitor journeys.
A spokesperson for King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust responded: “We have received a copy of Healthwatch Bromley’s report and will use the findings to improve the experience and care of patients accessing cancer services at the PRUH.”
