Children and Young People's Cancer Network

About Us

The West Midlands Children’s and Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Network brings together cancer services for children, teenagers and young adults across the region.

 

Cancer care for children and young people is different from cancer care for older adults. Patients often need specialist treatment plans, care in age-appropriate settings, and support from a wide range of professionals over a long period of time. Care can involve frequent hospital visits, which can place significant pressure on patients, families, education, work and home life.

 

The Network includes two regional Principal Treatment Centres. Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital is the main specialist centre for children aged 0–16. University Hospitals Birmingham is the main specialist centre for teenagers and young adults aged 16–24.

 

Patients may receive different parts of their care in different places. This depends on their age, diagnosis, treatment needs and where they live. Some care will take place at a Principal Treatment Centre, while other treatment, supportive care and follow-up may be provided closer to home through local Paediatric Oncology Shared Care Units (POSCUs) or Teenage and Young Adult Designated Hospitals (TYA DHs). Children’s cancer services usually support patients aged 0–16, although some local services may continue to support young people up to 18. All Teenage and Young Adult services support young people aged 13–24, working across both children’s and adult cancer services.

 

Our role as a Network is to help hospitals and specialist teams work together, so that care feels more joined-up and families can receive support closer to home where this is safe and appropriate. 

 

The Network brings together the specialist teams involved in children’s and young people’s cancer care, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, therapists, youth support teams and other professionals. By connecting these teams across the West Midlands, the Network helps services plan care, share expertise, support staff through education and training, and improve consistency, safety and quality across local hospitals and specialist centres. This joined-up approach helps patients and families access the right advice, care and support, while supporting better experience and outcomes.

 

For patients and families, this means care should feel more coordinated. Our aim is for every patient to benefit from specialist care and oversight, while reducing unnecessary travel and helping more care to happen locally where possible.