The 21 child cancer patients evacuated from Ukraine have now arrived at seven NHS children’s hospitals for treatment.
The youngsters had endured a traumatic journey across the war-torn country to the border with Poland before being flown to England on Sunday night.
Two teams of medics from from Southampton Children’s Hospital and Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust accompanied the children and their guardians.
The children have now been assessed and taken to the seven hospitals where they will be able to restart lifesaving treatment including chemotherapy.
NHS England boss Amanda Pritchard said: “Today is a lifeline for children in the most vulnerable circumstances imaginable.
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“It is hard to overstate how much today will mean for the parents, brothers and sisters of these children, as they start the next phase of a hugely traumatic journey to a healthier and safer future.
“Anyone who has experienced cancer knows it is an ordeal for friends and relatives too, so I’m proud that not only have NHS staff been able to put their world-class skill to work to save the lives of these young people, but that in doing so, my colleagues in the health service are providing hope to our new patients’ families.”
The flight was chartered by Polish authoritiies and a US organisation which specialises in paediatric diseases.
NHS hospitals to have accepted the patients include Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Oxford Children’s Hospital and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.
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Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “These brave children have overcome unimaginable adversity to make it to England after being forced out of their home country by the Russian invasion.
“I thank the doctors, nurses and technicians who travelled to Poland to evacuate them, and the Polish government for their support.
“These children are now in the safest of hands with NHS staff providing world-class cancer treatment, doing everything they can to support them over the coming days and weeks.
“We stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and will remain at the forefront of the humanitarian response.”
Other specialist teams to take children are at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital, University College London Hospital, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.
The cancer treatment will be provided free of charge by the health service across hospitals in England.
Hospitals in Poland have taken in children needing treatment who have arrived from Ukraine.
