Ukrainian children were brought to England for cancer treatment

• The UK government has brought 21 Ukrainian children with cancer to England for care by the NHS
• The children will be screened to understand their specific health needs before being treated in an appropriate NHS hospital
• The intervention is part of the government’s broader humanitarian response to the Ukraine conflict, with more than 650,000 medical items already being shipped to Ukraine

21 Ukrainian children receive life-saving cancer treatment in England after being brought there by the UK government with support from Polish authorities and clinicians.

The 21 children and their immediate family members landed in England this evening from Poland and will be triaged by NHS clinicians to understand their health needs before being sent to NHS hospitals in England to continue their treatment.

Vital and in many cases life-saving cancer treatment is provided free of charge by the Health Service in all hospitals in England.

Hospitals in Poland have taken in many children in need of medical care who have arrived from Ukraine. With more children crossing the border and in need of immediate treatment, the UK has responded to Poland’s call for support from international partners to provide additional care.

The UK has partnered with St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, an American non-profit organization specializing in childhood illnesses, to arrange an urgent flight for the children.

The Department of Health and Social Care has been working with the Department for Transport, the Home Office and the Department of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development to facilitate the children’s transfer from Poland to the UK.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:

The unbearable suffering of innocent civilians in Ukraine is truly appalling. This life-saving medical care is another important step in our support for the people of Ukraine and their resistance to Putin’s illegal invasion.

I am so grateful to our fantastic NHS staff, as well as our partners including our Polish friends, for their support in bringing these children to the UK and we will continue to do everything we can to support them as they continue their critical treatment here.

Health and Welfare Minister Sajid Javid said:

I am appalled by the atrocities we have seen in Ukraine and the heinous attacks on innocent civilians.

I am proud that the UK is providing life-saving medical care to these Ukrainian children who were displaced from their homeland while undergoing medical treatment by the Russian invasion.

I know the incredible staff of the NHS will ensure they receive the best possible care. I am very grateful to our partners and our Polish friends for their support in bringing these children to the UK.

We stand with the people of Ukraine and will continue to do whatever we can to help them.

NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard said:

The situation in Ukraine is deeply shocking and saddening and the NHS will continue to help in any way we can, whether by working with the Government to bring healthcare directly to Ukraine or in this case by making it happen that these children are living with life-threatening cancers and are receiving the critical treatment they need.

It is fantastic that colleagues in children’s hospitals across the country have gone above and beyond to help these children in their greatest need and I would like to thank the NHS staff, volunteers, charities and other partners involved who have come together to make this possible allow happen at breakneck speed.

The UK is at the forefront of humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The government has already sent seven planes to the region to deliver more than 650,000 medical items, including wound care kits, critical care equipment and essential medicines.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said:

Russia’s attack on the innocent people of Ukraine is reprehensible and barbaric. Working with our partners in the region, we remain at the forefront of joint humanitarian efforts to provide the best medical care and support to these children and their families.

In addition, the UK has pledged approximately £400m in humanitarian aid and funds to boost Ukraine’s economy and reduce Ukraine’s dependence on Russian gas – making the UK the second largest bilateral humanitarian donor behind the US.

The UK response so far includes:

• matching funding of £25 million in public donations to the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal;
• Providing humanitarian expertise including medical emergency teams with NHS staff, logistical support currently in charge of transporting medical supplies to Ukraine, UK teams on the ground assessing needs and providing support; the option of using British forces to provide humanitarian pressure to NATO countries;
• providing defensive military assistance to Ukraine, continuing cooperation with international partners to supply defense weapons to the Ukrainian Armed Forces;
• Coordinating with partners on sanctions aimed at depriving the Russian government of funds to fuel its unprovoked war against Ukraine, imposing sweeping sanctions on Russian companies, banks and individuals, including a joint decision by all G7 countries to ban Russian banks remove the SWIFT system, in addition to our existing sanctions;
• On 7 March 02022 FCDO announced a further £100m in humanitarian aid, bringing the UK’s total offer in support of the Ukraine crisis to £394m. This sum includes:
  • £220m humanitarian aid – used to save lives and protect vulnerable people in the country and wider region.
  • £100m ODA – to boost Ukraine’s economy and reduce Ukraine’s dependence on Russian gas imports.
  • and £74 million, announced on March 7, 2022 – for Ukraine’s government budget to ease financial pressures created by the unprovoked and illegal invasion of Russia.