Care Closer to Home

The Care Closer to Home Innovation & Service Development for Paediatric Oncology Services

Around 600 children up to the age 16 have cancer in the area the NWCCODN covers each year. Whilst many aspects of care are delivered as close to home as possible, many families have frequent long journeys to access care.

This Proof of Concept project aims to increase focus on the delivery of supportive care and chemotherapy closer to home, either in the home environment or via the Mobile Cancer care Unit at a location close to the patients home. These specialist services will be delivered whilst maintaining safety and ensuring equity of access to specialist services.

Nadine

Nadine is a children’s nurse who after qualifying from Northumbria University began her career working at the GNCH in Newcastle specialising in paediatric oncology, where she worked for six years, developing extensive clinical skills and supporting children and their families through complex treatments and has since spent a year working on the oncology haematology ward at Alder Hey Children’s hospital.

After continuously witnessing the impact childhood cancer has on quality of life, Nadine is passionate about improving the experience of children and young people by allowing them delivery of care closer to home with her range of knowledge surrounding SACT and dedication to providing compassionate patient centred care.

Our Alder Hey Care Closer to Home Nurses!

Toni

Toni qualified as a Registered Children’s Nurse from the University of Leeds in 2010. Her career started at Leeds General Infirmary as a Paediatric Intensive Care Nurse and continued at Alder Hey’s Intensive Care unit after a move back to the North West in 2014. In 2016 her career at the Alder Hey Oncology/Haematology unit began. Starting as a staff nurse on the unit and progressing to become a senior member of the team. In 2018 she became one of the newly appointed After Cure Nurse Specialists and played a central role in developing the After Cure Service at Alder Hey.

In 2025 she was appointed as one of the Care Closer to home Nurses and is very excited to be given the opportunity to be part of an exciting and innovative project.

For more information click the smiley face or watch our webinar click here.

As part of Phase 1 (Planning) the team facilitated workshops with staff across the region. Click on the puzzle icon to see the outcomes.

Mobile Cancer Care Unit

We have worked with patients, families and staff to initially understand thoughts and feelings about a Mobile Cancer Care Unit.

It is very important that patients and families continue to shape this project. We have a Parent Representative who attends the project meetings and our Patient & Family Experience Working Group provides guidance. We are always looking for more Lived Experience Representatives to be involved. Read our Patient & Family letters, by clicking on the icons to find out more information on being involved!

Global Best Practice

As more complex cancer care isn’t routinely delivered at home or on a Mobile Unit in paediatrics, the team have been reaching out to colleagues doing similar work across the country and internationally. Big thank you to Neil Shaw at Leeds Children’s Hospital, Pat Dyminski at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, Kylie Stark at Kids Cancer Care in Australia, Donna Drew at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Claire Lawson & Sian Jones at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and Sally Wainhouse & Radhika Sandilya at Starship Blood and Cancer Centre in New Zealand, for sharing your insights and knowledge!

If you would like to get involved in the project, please get in touch via our email: info.nwccodn@mft.nhs.uk