Paediatric oncology
We offer a comprehensive oncology service for children with cancer and their families.
The service operates within the Anglia Cancer Network as a level 1 paediatric oncology shared care unit (POSCU) with Addenbrooke's Hospital Cambridge (principal treatment centre).
What this means for our children and families
We can give intravenous bolus chemotherapy and oral chemotherapy, but for day case chemotherapy and inpatient chemotherapy the children with cancer will need to travel to Cambridge. However we can provide full supportive care including admissions for febrile neutropenia, nutritional support and blood products.
Services provided
- Bolus chemo therapy for children under 16 years of age undergoing active treatment for cancer in clinic or on the ward as necessary.
- Weekly Consultant led Oncology Outpatient Clinics, which are being held in the Roxburgh Children Centre Mondays 9am to 1pm with monthly off treatment/long term follow up clinics on 2nd Monday per month from 2pm to 5pm.
- 24/7 open access policy for urgent medical review of chemotherapy and disease related complications. Children that require admission are nursed in designated side rooms on Rudham ward.
- Nutritional support including home tube feeding service provided by paediatric dietetics
- This clinic is supported by a dedicated child psychologist
- Home visits and school visits by Nurse Specialists.
- End of life care and bereavement support for patients and families in conjunction with the Children's Hospice team at Quidenham.
How to access our services
- Lead Paediatrician: Dr Piel - Tel: 01553 613687
- Deputy Lead Paediatrician: Dr Besslich - Tel: 01553 613613 bleep 1149
- Nurse Specialists: Sally Butlin - Tel: 07825119434
- CLIC Sargent Social Worker: Kathy Walshe via Addenbrooke's Hospital
- Paediatric Specialist Dietitian: Sue Patten - Tel: 01553 613507
- Clinical Psychologist: Dr Gail Clare - Tel: 01553 613433
- Rudham Ward (Children's Ward) - Tel: 01553 613844
- Roxburgh Children's Centre - Tel: 01553 613977
- Community Nursing team - Tel: 01553 6133214
- Quidenham Hospice Team - Tel: 01953 888603
Multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings
We hold monthly MDT meetings on the first Monday of each month via videolink to the Principal Treatment Centre (2.30-4pm).
Research
All oncology patients are offered the opportunity to participate in national clinical trials where available. Current clinical trials include research into childhood leukaemia, brain tumours and other solids tumours. Research is done in accordance with a specific, signed research and development agreement between ourselves and Addenbrooke's Hospital.
Useful website links
- www.macmillan.org.uk
- www.leukaemialymphomaresearch.org.uk
- www.teenagecancertrust.org
- www.clicsargent.org.uk
- www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk
- www.cclg.org.uk
- www.itpsupport.org.uk
- www.ukts.org - thalassaemia society
- www.sicklecellsociety.org
- www.angcn.nhs.uk - includes referral guidance (a login is required)
- www.headsmart.org.uk - offers advice on brain tumour awareness
- www.angcn.nhs.uk - includes referral guidance (a login is required)