Neuro-oncology

Sheffield Children’s Hospital is the Principal Treatment Centre for children and teenagers with brain and spinal tumours, taking referrals from within South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and North Derbyshire. Patients will be referred to the neurosurgery team and will then usually be reviewed by oncology before discharge. Children will initially be cared for on the neurosurgical ward (Ward 5).

The Oncology and Haematology Unit has a specialist 16 bedded ward (Ward 6) and a dedicated Haematology and Oncology Centre for children and young people with cancer. Any subsequent oncology treatment will be delivered here.

We participate in national/multi-national trials for the treatment of brain tumours.

There are weekly meetings to plan and review treatment to ensure high quality care for patients. The meetings consist of paediatric oncologists, neuroradiologists, neurosurgeons, histopathologists, specialist nurses and radiographers and an MDT co-ordinator. The meeting also includes clinical oncologists and radiographers from Leeds General Infirmary who provide a radiotherapy service for children and young people. Children may be eligible for proton therapy, which is usually delivered by the proton beam therapy centre at the Christie in Manchester.

Patients and their families have access to an extensive multidisciplinary team that ensures all aspects of their medical and psychosocial care is co-ordinated to their needs.

All patients are allocated a key worker (Paul Coyle, neuro-oncology outreach nurse specialist) for the duration of their treatment.

The quality of paediatric neuro-oncology care in Sheffield is recognised by being an accredited Tessa Jowell Centre of Excellence.

Team members

Dr Victoria Lee, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist and lead for neuro-oncology
Dr David King, Consultant Paediatric Oncologist
Paul Coyle, Paediatric neuro-oncology Outreach Nurse Specialists: