New Child Cancer Unit Opens In Southampton

A new bone marrow transplant unit's officially opening at Southampton General Hospital today (Friday, 19 November).

The unit treats young people aged between 16 and 24 and has rooms with TVs, DVD players, laptops and computer games - some will even have MP3 docking stations.

The government’s cancer tsar will officially open it. Professor Mike Richards, who was appointed the country’s first national cancer director by the Department of Health in 1999, will also find out more about developments in cancer care for young people.

During the visit, staff on the teenage and young adult cancer unit will take the opportunity to highlight some of the innovations they have introduced to provide the best possible care for patients.

In partnership with CLIC Sargent, a teenage and young adult outreach team has been set up to provide advice and support to patients, their families and friends in hospital and at home, while development of a Teenage Cancer Trust unit is currently underway.

Louise Hooker, Macmillan lead nurse for the teenage and young adult cancer service, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Professor Richards to our hospital and have the opportunity to discuss with him how we have adapted our cancer wards to create a better environment for young people.

“We are further developing our teenage and young adult service at Southampton General Hospital and are working towards a specialist service that will be at the forefront of care in this group”