Paediatric Oncology
Clinical Psychology in Paediatric Oncology is part of the East Midlands regional Children and Young Person’s Integrated Cancer Service (CYPICS). The aim of the service is to provide specialist psychological interventions for young people aged from 0 until their 19th birthday, with a cancer diagnosis and who are either receiving treatment at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, or who are post treatment and/or are receiving palliative care. Interventions may also be offered to the young person’s parents/family (on a case by case basis), but this will depend on capacity. Common reasons for a referral (this is not an exhaustive list) include: adjustment to the diagnosis, anxiety, anger, difficulty taking medication/s, low mood, changes in relationships, school/college worries, coping after treatment has finished and living with uncertainty. If a cancer diagnosis is recent, it is advised to allow for a period of adjustment before making a referral to clinical psychology.
Young people can be seen whilst they are an inpatient. Outpatient appointments will be held either via telephone, video call or face to face at QMC. Young people experiencing acute emotional and psychological distress will be prioritised. Inpatient referrals are made via Nervecentre and Outpatient referrals are made via the Medway order system.
Please contact Dr Amandeep Samrai via email (contact details are also provided in the service information leaflet) if you have a concern about a young person or family, or wish to discuss a possible referral in more detail.