The guidance marks the first time the National Institute for Health andClinical Excellence (Nice) has called for age-appropriatefacilities.
The guidelines also state that other groups of ill children shouldreceive care tailored to their age.
Currently, care for children and young people with cancer is provided byeight specialist cancer units, fewer than half the number needed,according to the Teenage Cancer Trust.
But hospitals will now be expected to provide these services, alongsideappropriately trained staff to deal with all aspects of their care. Theguidance also states that each child should have access to aprofessional key worker who provides support to them and theirfamilies.
The guidance was drawn up by Nice and the National Collaborating Centrefor Cancer. Peter Littlejohns, who led the team that compiled theguidance, said children were better provided for than adolescents, whowere often placed on children's or adult wards.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
