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Children's Oncology (Cancer) Service

Hillingdon Hospital: Children's Oncology (Cancer) Service

Dr Ajitsaria (Consultant Paediatrician): 01895 279263
Jo Davison (Clinical Nurse Specialist): 01895 238282 ext 2745 or bleep 5286
Peter Pan Ward: 01895 279529 or 01895 279532
Wendy Ward: 01895 279530 or 01895 279245
Children’s Outpatients: 01895 279990

URGENT queries after 5pm: Call Peter Pan Ward or paediatric registrar on call via hospital switchboard (01895 238282). Identify yourself as a parent of an oncology child.

children

Children suspected of having cancer need a variety of health professionals to diagnose and treat their conditions. They come from the:

Principal Treatment Centre (PTC)

To confirm diagnosis and begin treatment, children will go to a PTC (Great Ormond Street Hospital or University College London) depending on child’s age, type of cancer or bed availability.

Paediatric Oncology Shared Care Unit (POSCU)

The Trust POSCU is run by a multidisciplinary team who meet monthly to discuss all patients ensuring the team are updated on their progress. There is also frequent communication between the team and the PTC about the care of your child.

  • Dr Richa Ajitsaria, Lead Paediatrician for Oncology (cancer) and heads the team
  • Dr Gulamabbas Khakoo, Consultant Paediatrician / Hospital Lead for Quality & Safety
  • Dr Mamta Sohal, Consultant Haematologist at Ealing and Hillingdon hospitals
  • Jo Davison, Specialist Nurse for Paediatric Oncology
  • Chris Mann is the Matron and Nursing Services Manager for the Children’s Unit
  • Caitriona Delaney, MDT Coordinator
  • Peter Pan Ward: Elaine Duckmanton (Sister) and Chris Tapping (Charge Nurse)
  • Wendy Ward: This ward is the day-care unit. Josanne Hampton is the Senior Sister of Wendy Ward and Outpatients

Children’s Community Nursing Team (CCN)

The CCN Team is able to obtain blood samples at home, school or nursery and will liaise with you and staff about results. Main contacts are:

  • Hillingdon – Cheri Powell: 01895 279227
  • Ealing – Yemisi Adeyemo: 0208 967 5020
  • West Middlesex – Loretta Hanrahan: 0208 321 5381

Key Worker

All of our patients are allocated a key worker: Children’s Oncology Nurse Specialist, Jo Davison (8am - 4pm, Monday – Friday). If Jo is not in her office, leave a message and she will get back to you as soon as possible. If your query is urgent, telephone the main Trust switchboard on 01895 238282 and ask to speak to the Paediatric (children’s) Registrar on call. It is the role of your key worker to work with you and your child to ensure care is co-ordinated around their particular needs and that you have access to services to support your child through their treatment. Your key worker is also an invaluable source of information and support, if you have questions that need answering or need advice.

How can you help us care for your child?

  • Always bring your shared care oncology parent-held record with you when you come in
  • Always identify yourself to staff as a ‘shared care oncology parent’ when talking on the phone and give details of your child
  • If your child is admitted to hospital, always bring all of their medication with you.

Blood results and your queries

Your child’s community nurse will usually take routine weekly blood tests and will inform you, the PTC and our nurse specialist of these results. The results are reviewed and discussed by both the PTC and your POSCU team in case any action needs to be taken (such as changes in your child’s medication or transfusions). Your key worker or another member of the team will discuss any changes to your child’s care with you. Occasionally these results are not available until after working hours, in this case the on-call registrar will telephone you with appropriate advice according to the result. If you have any other queries, please do not hesitate to speak to any member of your medical team during office hours.