Starting in early 2026, patients in East London will have access to a dedicated Breast Cancer Centre at St Bartholomew’s Hospital that will completely change local breast cancer care for generations to come.
Patients will benefit from:
- Improved access to advanced breast surgery and reconstruction
- Shorter stays in the hospital
- More supportive care, including fertility, recovery and wellbeing services
- More equitable access to the very best care
- A significant increase in overall experience of care
- Faster diagnoses
- New opportunities to join research and access cutting edge treatments
Support world-class breast cancer care in East London
Donate“Our investment of £16.6m in this new Breast Cancer Centre will be a transformative moment for the health of people in East London. The impact it will have on breast cancer patients will be huge, and it will also have a ripple effect throughout local health – reducing waiting times and freeing up vital resources for other patients. We’re once again proud to support Barts Health with this ambitious vision for the future of East London’s health.”Fiona Miller Smith, Chief Executive of Barts Charity
Why do we need the Breast Cancer Centre?
Breast cancer patients in North East London have the lowest five- and ten-year survival rates in the country, according to the Office for National Statistics.
There is also a high prevalence of breast cancer in women under 40, and a prevalence of more aggressive types of breast cancer.
We recognise that breast cancer is a significant local health challenge that needs our support. Over the years we’ve worked with our colleagues at Barts Health and Queen Mary University of London to address this through investments in world-leading research and healthcare innovation. The Breast Cancer Centre will be an opportunity for us to build on this existing work, to the benefit of patients across London.
Making the Breast Cancer Centre a reality
In 2023, to celebrate the 900-year anniversary of the founding of St Bartholomew’s Hospital, we set out our ambition to develop a Breast Cancer Centre there.
This is now being made possible because two buildings are being brought back into NHS use. The facilities for breast cancer services will include three operating theatres, a 15-bedded ward, space for diagnostics and chemotherapy trials and facilities for outpatient services.
The development will enable Barts Health to bring breast cancer surgery from across its hospitals into one place. It’s expected that the centre will handle approximately 1,800 breast surgeries annually.
“We are enormously grateful to Barts Charity and their supporters for helping us realise our ambition of creating a centre of excellence for breast cancer treatment and care. As part of our hospital’s 900th anniversary in 2023, we committed to improving outcomes for people with breast cancer in our local communities, and this new facility is a major step in making that vision a reality.”Professor Charles Knight OBE, Chief Executive of St Bartholomew's Hospital
Anne’s story
In the summer of 2023, Anne had just returned home after spending some time in Sweden, where she grew up. She went for a routine mammogram but didn’t expect anything out of the ordinary – she was in the middle of her doctorate, busy with family and work.
She was completely shocked when the results showed that she had ductal breast cancer, aged just 51. She had previously received life-saving care at St Bartholomew’s Hospital for a heart condition and decided to return there for her treatment.
Despite some post-surgery complications Anne made a good recovery and was looking forward to a cancer-free future with her two children, who were aged 12 and 15 at the time of her diagnosis. However, she was hit with another bombshell just a few months later – she had once again been diagnosed with breast cancer. This time it was triple negative breast cancer – a more aggressive type, which has fewer treatment options. Anne was in complete shock. “It felt as if cancer was a dream that I only half woke up from. How many chances at life will I be given? I had to try and stay strong ahead of treatment.”
Anne at St Bartholomew's Hospital during her treatment.
Over the next few months, Anne faced a stretch of different chemotherapies, which took her to her limits, both physically and emotionally.Through it all, Anne was incredibly grateful to the “incredible” staff at St Bartholomew’s Hospital who were with her every step of the way.
“I have lost time. I have lost parts. I have lost some of my mind. But I am still myself. And that’s all thanks to medical science, the team at St Bartholomew’s and my unwavering family and friends.”
Anne is now in remission and is looking forward to a bright future. On hearing about the new Breast Cancer Centre, Anne was thrilled to see more work being done to support women in East London, especially those from underserved communities.
"It is very much needed to support women from all backgrounds to feel independent and comfortable when undergoing treatment. Being able to have that consistency of care like I have experienced at Barts is so important, and I think the centre will make this possible for many more women.”Anne