Teenage Cancer Trust launches specialist services in the East Midlands
17/06/10
Teenage Cancer Trust, the national charity devoted to improving the lives of young people with cancer, today launched plans to develop a number of specialist facilities in the East Midlands.
The plans include:
- A five-bed unit at Leicester Royal Infirmary for 13 to 24 year olds
- A five-bed unit at Queens Medical Centre for 13 to 18 year olds
- A three-bed unit at Nottingham City Hospital for 19 to 24 year olds
All three units will provide teenage cancer patients from across the East Midlands with some of the best facilities and options in the country.
Teenage Cancer Trust funds specialist teenage cancer units in NHS hospitals that are designed to give teenagers the very best chance of a positive outcome. It is estimated that, with the 16 units currently around the UK, only half of the young people diagnosed with cancer now have access to this dedicated, specialist support. The charity aims to build enough units so that, by 2012, every young person with cancer has the choice to be treated on one.
Teenage Cancer Trust needs to raise over £1.2m to develop these facilities and expand services for young people across the East Midlands. As well as units, Teenage Cancer Trust also funds a number of services all with the same goal – to help young people fight cancer. These include clinical and research staff, an education programme for schools, family support networks and an annual conference for young cancer patients in Nottingham.
Fiona Miall, consultant haematologist at Leicester’s Hospitals, said: “Those of us treating teenagers and young adults with cancer are excited about plans for dedicated units in the region. The new unit will provide inpatient beds, clinic and day case facilities on one site. We have worked closely with Teenage Cancer Trust to improve care for young people of in the East Midlands who often need repeated and lengthy admissions to hospital and many day case visits for chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other treatments.
She continued, “We look forward to the next phase and bringing these plans to life, working with Teenage Cancer Trust and the public so that soon young people with cancer in the East Midlands will have the choice of being treated in this specialist unit.”
Shaista Dharamshi, 23, was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma at the age of 22. She said: “Having spent 47 nights in hospital last year, it would have been absolutely fantastic to have somewhere to relax and get away from it all, especially with people in the same age group. I imagine this will give young patients more motivation in their fight against cancer, and the extra support that will be provided from Teenage Cancer Trust will be invaluable to each and every patient. I know that it would give me something to look forward to if I had to stay overnight in the hospital again.”
Kate Collins, Head of Regional Fundraising for Teenage Cancer Trust said: “We are so excited to be launching Teenage Cancer Trust services in both Leicester and Nottingham. These facilities will create a great support system for local teenagers and help them in their fight against cancer. You can help us to make a really difference to the lives of local young cancer patients.”
Every day in the UK, six young people are told they have cancer. This is a rising figure and there are already more young people than children with the disease. Teenage Cancer Trust understands that teenage cancer requires specialist care, provided in an environment suited to their specific needs.
For more information or to make a donation: www.teenagecancertrust.org/eastmidlands
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For press enquiries, please contact:
Shree Rajani on 020 7612 0709 / 07904 916470 or email
shree.rajani@teenagecancertrust.org
