At UCLH Private Healthcare, we deliver world-leading cancer and haematology care for teenagers and younger children, carefully tailored to the needs of their particular age groups.
We accept international referrals from families and clinicians seeking specialist treatment for:
• Patients aged 13–18 with blood cancers, complex non-malignant blood disorders or solid tumours
• Younger patients with solid tumours or lymphoma, up to the age of 18
Our service is one of the most comprehensive and specialised in the UK, offering seamless, multidisciplinary care from diagnosis to recovery.
All patients are supported by a multidisciplinary clinical team that specialise in their age group, recognising the unique medical and emotional needs each life stage brings. They will also stay in supportive, age-appropriate environments co-designed with young people who’ve had similar cancer experiences.
Supporting a wide range of conditions
We provide expert care for a wide range of conditions, including
• Leukaemias (ALL, AML)
• Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Bone marrow failure syndromes, including aplastic anaemia and myelodysplasia
• Sickle cell anaemia
• Thalassaemia and other haemoglobinopathies
• Immunodeficiencies
• Solid tumours: Ewing’s sarcoma, osteosarcoma, and selected brain tumours
State-of-the-art treatment options
We specialise in innovative treatments for children’s cancer and blood disorders, providing tailored solutions to meet each patient’s unique needs.
Our advanced treatment options include:
• Intensive chemotherapy to aggressively target cancer cells
• Stem cell transplants for rebuilding healthy blood cell production
• Cellular therapies such as CAR-T therapy and Exacel (a gene therapy for haemoglobinopathies), which harness the power of the immune system to fight disease
• Proton beam therapy to precisely target tumours
Proton beam therapy (PBT) at UCLH can be accessed through our partnership with Proton International. Our integrated service ensures seamless care for young patients throughout their treatment journey.
While it is not possible to provide a direct international comparison due to differences in recording methods, our outcomes consistently exceed national averages in the UK, which is reflective of our commitment to excellence in caring for these specific age groups.
We offer a responsive, consultant-led assessment process for all new patient referrals to determine whether they are suitable for and would benefit from treatment at UCLH.
Our turnaround time for referrals is within six working hours, wherever possible.
Our rapid review includes:
• Evaluation of disease type
• Review of current clinical status, previous treatment, and current treatment
• Assessment of the patient’s age and weight.
This assessment determines whether we believe it is in the best interest of the patient to be cared for by our team.
We will make sure we clearly communicate any requirement for further diagnostics and potential care pathways to both referrers and to the patient’s families before travel and will agree on the safest time to travel once we have assessed if it is appropriate that we take the patient on.
We recognise that for international patients and their families, clarity and communication are essential. Our team is happy to arrange teleconferences with referring clinicians, patients, and families prior to travel to the UK to make sure that everyone involved understands the treatment plan, timeline, logistics and any information that needs to be shared ahead of treatment.
Once accepted, our international coordinator team - including dedicated administrative support - works with both the referrer and family to:
• Facilitate logistics and travel planning
• Receive and upload full medical histories in advance
• Organise and book initial appointments/admission in readiness for the patient’s arrival
Advanced diagnostics: We use cutting-edge diagnostics, which can include molecular testing and genetic sequencing, to identify cancer type, assess risk, and guide personalised treatment. We continuously monitor our patients to make real-time adjustments to achieve the best outcomes for our young patients.
Cutting-edge expert treatment: Our consultants are linked to University College London (UCL), one of the world’s top universities for medicine, according to the QS World University Rankings. The latest in chemotherapy, radiotherapy, transplant procedures, and cellular therapies are available to our patients thanks to our position as a major NHS teaching hospital and part of an academic health science centre.
Unparalleled expertise: Many consultants hold joint appointments with University College London and lead pioneering research into treatments for young people with cancer and blood disorders. We are a national centre of excellence, and as a tertiary referral centre we specialise in complex cases, including relapsed and refractory leukaemias such as ALL and AML.
Our team contributes to global trials like the ALLTogether study for newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Our medical and clinical oncologists are part of the London Sarcoma Service, which manages over 500 sarcoma cases annually, making it one of the most experienced sarcoma units in the UK and beyond.
Each patient is assessed by a dedicated multidisciplinary team (MDT) before we accept their case to make sure that travelling to the UK offers clear medical benefit.
Our MDT is composed of a wide range of experts, including (but not limited to):
• Cancer consultants
• Radiologists
• Specialist nurses
• Pathologists
• Therapists
• Dietitians
• Psychologists
• Activity coordinators (and play specialists for younger patients)
This team continues to assess patients at every stage of care, combining clinical expertise with emotional support.
Every patient is assigned a lead consultant, with additional round-the-clock support from the wider consultant team and our specialist resident doctors. Our nurses and allied health professionals are also specialised in caring for young people with cancer and blood disorders.
As well as clinical expertise, we also offer dedicated advocacy services for Middle Eastern patients seeking cancer treatment in the UK. Our advocates assist with translation, appointments, and navigating London while ensuring families understand diagnoses and treatment options. Our clinical team is available 24/7 for support, and we provide accommodation for a parent or carer to stay with their loved one throughout treatment.
Our patients are cared for in environments specially created for young people, making their experience with us as relaxed and at home as possible.
Younger inpatients will stay in our paediatric ward at University College Hospital, which has been designed with them in mind to make their hospital experience as positive as possible.
Our teenage and young adult ward provides a supportive, age-appropriate environment co-designed with young people who’ve had similar cancer experiences. Facilities include a gym, craft area, computer bank, games area, and Wi-Fi, ensuring young patients stay connected and comfortable during treatment.