About us
We look after children and teenagers undergoing cancer treatment. It is a safe and secure area and has its own entrance and exit so that children and young people who are immuno-suppressed and at risk of infection do not come into contact with patients on the main Medical ward.
Our care is centred around the child or young person and their family or carers both within the hospital and at home. We are supported by play specialists who will spend time with your child during their stay. To support their work, the ward has a dedicated play room.
We provide care for children with cancer who live locally, in partnership with regional centres such as UCLH, the Royal Marsden Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital.
The entire nursing, surgical and medical team works collaboratively to ensure that the children of Sussex are afforded the highest quality of care so that they can recover and return home to their families as soon as possible. Our oncology outreach nurse and community nursing teams in your area work closely with the ward team to provide care and nursing support at home once the child has been discharged from hospital. Where possible, children are seen in the community to allow them to continue with their normal life as much as possible.
The shared care team includes 3 paediatric oncology consultants, chemotherapy trained nurses, two paediatric oncology nurse specialists, an oncology outreach nurse specialist, a teenage & young adult nurse specialist, a dedicated pharmacist and psychology service. Play specialists, physiotherapists and dieticians provide further support.
Our Oncology Psychology Team are based on the oncology day care unit and also have access to therapy spaces off the unit in the Alex. The service offers psychology assessment and therapy to patients and family members. This can start as soon as diagnosis is given, anytime throughout the treatment plan or after treatment finishes.
Paediatric Oncology Psychology ServiceUpon completion of treatment, children and young people will be followed up at regular intervals in the off treatment clinic. Children who turn 18 either on treatment or within 5 years off treatment will transition to adult services. Our teenage and young adult clinical nurse specialist will be involved with transition ahead of time to allow a smooth move over to adult services.
Once children are 5 years since completing treatment they will transition to the late effects clinic. This service is comprised of 3 Consultants and a clinical nurse specialist. Some children can be discharged from the service when they reach adulthood, whilst others will require lifelong follow up, depending on the treatment they received.
During your stay
Our ward has a large and spacious four-bed room with an ensuite bathroom. The ward is operational between 9.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday. It is supported by highly experienced children’s nursing, surgical, medical and allied healthcare professionals, all of whom specialise in the care of children and young people with cancer.
Children and young people who require a hospital admission for ongoing care are admitted to the Medical ward on the same floor. Children who are at risk of infection are cared for in the single room facilities on the Medical ward.
We have pull-down day beds in all of the children’s rooms, to allow one parent to stay with their child during the day. Parents and carers also have their own lounge area and kitchen facilities. Parents can use the quiet rooms on the ward to meet privately with nurses and doctors to talk about their child, or for quiet reflection.
Mealtimes on the ward are protected times for children and young people. We carefully choose our menus to be nutritious and have food that children will recognise and eat. Vegetarian options are provided and, as the food is prepared on the ward, the hostess staff will try to provide something that a child would prefer if it is not on the menu.
Consultants
Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Nicola Huxter
- Sarah Schnellmann-Smith
- Julia Dahlstrom (Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist)
- Sophie McGoldrick (Clinical Nurse Specialist for Late Effects)
Charge Nurses/Deputy Sisters
- Lindsay Coleman
- Robert O’Sullivan
- Amanda Worman
Outreach Nurse Specialist
Karen Bashford