Children’s Network

Hull Royal Infirmary provides a standard level of shared care with Leeds Teaching Hospitals to allow patients with cancer diagnoses to receive their supportive care closer to home. Once Leeds have confirmed a diagnosis and started a treatment plan then our team becomes an integral part of your child’s care.

Our set up in Hull is a little different to other areas. We have a dedicated full time Children’s Cancer Specialist Nurse employed within Hull Teaching Hospitals. She works closely with the Children’s community nursing team who are employed by City Health Care Partnership (CHCP).

The Hull clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and community nurses (CCN) and both can access lines and take bloods at home or school, perform line cares and are an endless source of advice and support. Both their telephone numbers will be provided to you, and they can be contacted Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

Our new £4M first class designated assessment unit and children’s ward can provide blood transfusions, assess, and treat children with temperatures (febrile neutropenia) or other treatment-related side effects (Woodland Ward/ Ward 20, Assessment Unit/Ward 200 Main Building Second Floor Location C4 and C5). The assessment unit has 9 side rooms as well as the ward having 23 beds, 9 of those which are side rooms where we try to accommodate patients who are receiving active cancer treatment. One parent can stay on a parent bed overnight in the room beside your child and there is a dedicated parents’ room with soft furnishings and facilities for making hot drinks and storing fridge food are available. Televisions and FREE Wi-Fi are available in each room. We have play specialists available most days who can provide activities for your child during their stay. Your child can use the playroom and outdoor spaces after being risk assessed and if non neutropenic. We can also provide schooling for your child during term time if required. We currently do not have the facility to provide parents with a meal, but you can store food in the parents’ room, order food to the hospital and use the canteen which is in the main building First floor.

We are also able to follow your child up locally once your treatment has been completed in Leeds in our Children’s outpatient department (Building 2) in Hull Royal Infirmary. If you are having any difficulties with accessing prescriptions locally or other medical equipment, please let the Hull Specialist Nurse or Community Team aware. We have children’s physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and dietitians available on the Hull site who might be involved in your child’s care. We will continue to share your child’s care with the Leeds Oncology team until you are discharged to long term follow-up at 5 years post diagnosis.