Ravenscourt Park Hospital closed in 2006 but now there are exciting plans for it to reopen in 2017.

It is to become the first in the UK to offer proton beam therapy for cancer patients.

The treatment involves firing beams of proton at a tumour to destroy cancerous cells. The beams stop once they hit the cancerous cell, causing less damage to surrounding tissue than conventional radiotherapy, which makes treatment is especially well suited to children with brain tumours.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said:

“This is a tremendous vote of confidence in London’s thriving life sciences sector as well as the skills and talent of our amazing healthcare professionals.”

VPS Healthcare plan this as their first hospital in Britain. There will be 150 beds and around 2,000 new members.

Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, an Indian entrepreneur who founded VPS, says:

“The UK has one of the strongest and most productive medical research sectors in the world, contributing to patient well-being, as well as supporting breakthroughs in science and driving economic growth.

“It has a worldwide reputation for excellence in innovation within its universities and is recognised for producing world-class scientists and clinicians.

“VPS Healthcare has been encouraged by the UK government’s ongoing policy to support health and pharmaceutical companies and we believe that our investment in this dynamic sector will not only ensure that we play a key role in supporting this initiative, but will also help to grow and develop the next generation of medical breakthroughs.”

The hospital was opened by George V in 1933. It won an award for RIBA as the best building that year – despite that I don’t think it is too bad.

There have been various incarnations as a Masonic, private and NHS hospital.

Let’s hope the best is yet to come.