Teenage cancer team wins Team of the Year at the CCLG Member Awards!

The Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) Cancer Service has been honoured with the prestigious Team of the Year award at the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) Member Awards.

This recognition celebrates their exceptional commitment to providing comprehensive care across South Yorkshire and the surrounding regions. 

Nominated by CCLG members, the awards celebrate the outstanding contribution of CCLG members in supporting children and young people with cancer and are awarded based on the impact and tangible benefits of their work, and whether the team have consistently demonstrated CCLG values. 

Liz Purnell, Lead Nurse at the TYA Cancer Service, said: “We are incredibly proud to have won this award which is a positive reflection of the feedback our patients have given to us. As well as supporting teenagers and young adult cancer patients with the effect of cancer on their physical, mental, psychological and social health during and beyond treatment, our team offer ongoing bereavement support to parents and family members of teenagers and young adult cancer patients who have sadly passed away.” 

Supporting patients and families 

The TYA Cancer Service in Sheffield, established in 2009, is run jointly by professionals from Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and covers a number of additional trusts across the region and beyond. The service supports patients aged between 13 and 25 years from South Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, and North Derbyshire who have been diagnosed with cancer and receives approximately 80 new referrals each year. 

The team offers holistic support that extends beyond treatment. Together, their support encompasses mental health assistance, relationship advice, benefits, education, employment support, and bereavement care. 

In her role as Lead Nurse, Liz guides the team with a tailored approach to patient care. Members of the team travel to where the patients are, whether it’s Cleethorpes, Chesterfield, or further afield. Liz shared: “This is an amazing job, I love that it is different every day. The collaboration and learning between colleagues mean we are constantly evolving our services to provide outstanding care to our patients.” 

Working across two different Trusts makes the team’s multidisciplinary approach even more impactful. Made up of a number of professions, including a nurse, support coordinator, social worker, and psychologist, the team have developed treatment summaries and psychological sessions, offering a unique support package to all young people. Their collaborative working across different organisations ensures the best support for young people. 

Dan Yeomanson, Consultant Oncologist and part of the TYA team, highlighted the significance of this award: “The majority of Teenage Cancer services are based in large adult teaching hospitals that care for both adults and children. There are only a few children’s services across the country and this team is one of only a few Teenage Cancer services that will work across trusts. To receive this recognition for cross trust collaboration is really special.” 

The team continues to improve services for young people, tailoring their support to meet individual needs. They organise events for those who have finished treatment, helping them navigate the next steps in their lives. Their adaptive service and collaborative efforts are making a significant impact on young people with cancer.