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Charity demands changes for children with cancer

More Than My Illness, a report from the charity Clic Sargent, recommends an overhaul of services for children with cancer and other complex health needs. It states that Children with cancer should receive better support in their communities so that they can spend more time at home.

The report underlines the importance of emotional and educational support for children with serious illnesses and their families, and argues that they should be able to leave hospital safely and try to lead ordinary lives.

It recommends co-ordination across the health, education and social care sectors to develop community-based services for children and young people with cancer, and their families.

The report also provides practical advice on how a child's care and treatment should be co-ordinated: every child and young person with cancer or any other serious illness should have a key worker responsible for ensuring a consistent service both in and out of hospital.

Key workers would be responsible for bringing together hospital doctors and nurses with community-based professionals such as GPs, social workers, teachers and community children's nurses. Together they would assess and plan each child's treatment and care, from the outset, on an individual basis.

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