The Department of Health has ordered health chiefs across England to submit proposals explaining how they will provide specialist age-appropriate care to these young people by the end of this month. The request is underpinned by new guidance setting out what health services must provide.
The move should result in the introduction of dedicated principal treatment centres throughout England by 2012.
Simon Davies, chief executive of the Teenage Cancer Trust, hailed the government's plans as a breakthrough. "It's a seminal document that is going to be really important in the development of specialist age-appropriate care for young people with cancer," he said.
The guidance, Improving Outcomes in Children and Young People with Cancer, tells health trusts that under-19s with cancer must be referred to a specialist principal treatment centre for young people. The centres will be staffed by a team made up of child cancer specialists who work with adult cancer specialists to provide treatment to young people.
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