Private teenage cancer service for patients 13-18

Our teenage and young adult cancer outpatient service is on the 3rd floor of the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre based on Huntley Street, London, WC1E 6AG.

Depending on your care needs, you may be able to have some or all of your treatment as an outpatient, without having to stay in hospital overnight.

If so, then you will be treated in the teenage and young adult specialist unit, located on the third floor of the Macmillan Cancer Centre. The unit consists of an outpatient area and a day-care unit. There is a large recreational area in the unit known as The Hub, which has been designed together with young people and includes a gym, computers, gaming space, an education zone, pool table and more.

Some outpatient activities occur at other hospitals within the University College Hospital campus, including the Grafton Way Building, The Hatter Institute and The Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals.

• The Grafton Way Building 1 Grafton Way, London WC1E 6AS
• The Hatter Institute 67 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX
• The Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals 47-49 Huntley St, London WC1E 6DG

Please bring any medication with you that you are currently taking or, alternatively, provide a list of medication from your doctor. If you have been told not to eat or drink before admission (“nil-by-mouth”), or you have been told to make specific preparations, you will have been given these instructions by your consultant

Private vehicles can drop off and collect passengers from Beaumont Place at the rear of University College Hospital. There is no parking on site.

If you are driving or being driven here, please be aware that most of our hospitals are within the London congestion charge and ultra-low emissions zones, and there may be a charge. Find out more on the Transport for London (TFL) website:

Congestion charge (www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/congestion-charge)

Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). (www.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone)

You can also travel by bus or by London Underground (the Tube). You can pay using a Transport for London “Oyster card", a contactless payment card, or via a smartwatch. You are no longer able to use cash to pay for your bus fare. The nearest tube stations are:

Warren Street (Northern / Victoria Lines)

Euston Square (Circle / Hammersmith & City / Metropolitan Lines)

If you stay in the hospital for one night or more, our teenage and young adult cancer inpatient service is on the 12th floor of the North side of University College Hospital in ward T12.

University College Hospital is located at 235 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BU.

You will be allocated a bed in one of the NHS bays on the Young Peoples’ Unit at University College Hospital.

Please be advised that for safety reasons, patients are allocated the limited number of single en suite rooms based on their clinical need. This includes both NHS and private patients admitted to the ward. For this reason, we cannot guarantee that you will be allocated a single room with an en suite bathroom. This does not change your care provision, and you can be certain that you will receive the high standard of clinical care you should expect from the NHS, accessed through the private healthcare team. 

One parent or guardian will be allowed to stay with you throughout the day and overnight.

If you would like to arrange for someone to visit during your stay, please ask your family to let your advocate know, and they can discuss this with the ward team.

You will be cared for by a team of healthcare professionals who specialise in helping young people through cancer treatment. You will hear us call this team the multidisciplinary team (MDT), because it includes experts in different areas of medicine, such as doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists.

Your first point of contact will be your nominated advocate and key worker to support you throughout your treatment. The key worker is usually a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) trained and experienced in treating young people with your type of cancer. Your key worker will also coordinate your care and support you and the rest of your family through treatment. Other professionals you may meet include:

Advanced nurse practitioners

Advanced nurse practitioners are specialist cancer nurses who will work alongside the medical team and may examine, assess, or treat you, prescribe medication, and make referrals for you.

Youth support coordinators

Youth support coordinators are there to support you and make being in hospital as positive an experience as possible. They provide an informal and relaxed atmosphere through activities and groups. They make sure there are plenty of chances to socialise and stay connected with other people of the same age. They are also trained to give practical help and emotional support about specific issues to you, the rest of your family, and your friends, as well as preparing and supporting you with procedures and tests that you may come across.

Psych-oncology team

Cancer can affect many aspects of your life, including your emotional and psychological wellbeing. It is completely normal to experience a wide range of feelings. Our psych-oncology team are here to support you and your entire family, to help you make sense of what has happened.

Physiotherapists

Our physiotherapists assess and treat a wide range of physical problems you may experience due to your illness or treatment. They will help you to maintain your independence and return to your usual physical activities.

Dietitians

If you are finding it difficult to eat or drink during or after treatment, our dietitians are here to offer support and advice. They can also provide information on all aspects of nutrition, and help to make sure your diet is right for you before, during, and after treatment.

Occupational therapists

Our occupational therapists can help you to stay independent and continue with day-to-day activities as much as possible during and after treatment. They can also help you to get back to your daily activities, education, or work, and advise on fatigue, relaxation, and specialised rehabilitation.

More information about the teams that will be involved in supporting your care can be found on the UCLH Private Healthcare website.

Nursing

 The children’s and young person’s inpatient unit and day care unit is led by our ward sisters and matron Eleanor Tyrrell.

Eleanor’s role focuses on patient-centred care, making sure your care remains both high quality and safe. Eleanor is available to support you during your admission with any questions or queries you may have.

Our consultants

We have a dedicated team on hand 24 hours a day, led by a team of expert consultants, many of whom are regarded as international leaders in their field.

Together they form a multidisciplinary team (MDT), including clinical nurse specialists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and dieticians who meet regularly to review each patient’s care plan. The different experts work together to find the best outcome for you and your own individual circumstances.

You will have a named consultant who oversees your care and any recommendations for treatment.

We understand that travelling abroad for medical treatment can be daunting, so making our hospitals feel a little more like home can make a real difference.

If you are looking for some spiritual support, our multi-faith chaplaincy team can visit you on a one-to-one basis. We also have a multi-faith room on each site.

We can also provide interpreting services on request if English is not your first language. We know the reassurance that a familiar face can bring when you are in hospital and we have dedicated advocates to help make the process as simple as possible.

Our advocate team is available to help with the specific needs of our Middle Eastern patients seeking treatment in the UK as well as the wider needs of any family members travelling with you. We also liaise on your behalf with your sponsoring health office or embassy. From initial enquiry through to first consultations and follow-up care plans, a member of our team will accompany you to your appointments and be on hand to help translate and answer any questions.

Our advocates can be contacted directly between 8am and 5pm. Out of hours, you can contact our on-call advocacy service. 

Our international patient service also includes:

• An administration team to liaise with embassies, health offices and insurance companies, keeping them up-to-date with your treatment plans and progress
• Advice and support with payments and billing enquiries
• Advice around places to stay and visit in London.

Arabic advocate - Venus Ridha

Venus has worked as an Arabic interpreter in various major hospitals across London for 15 years.

Venus graduated from the department of translation at Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad. She has been an Arabic interpreter in a variety of London hospitals since 2007 and joined UCLH Private Healthcare in February 2022.

Arabic advocate – Sana Majid

Sana Majid has worked as an advocate within healthcare for over 20 years and developed long standing relationships with many Middle Eastern patients.

Sana has excellent communication skills and is highly regarded by both patients and the healthcare teams she works with.

We offer a complimentary breakfast, lunch, and dinner for you and one carer whilst you are admitted to our ward. Your nominated parent or guardian is entitled to meals throughout your stay. You will both be able to choose from a wide range of specialist catering options, including vegan, vegetarian, halal, and kosher meals.

The catering team will offer a dedicated menu, which you can choose from daily. This is prepared by our catering team and delivered to your room/bay by our dedicated catering staff. There is also a small kitchen available on the ward that has a supply of tea, sugar, coffee, bread, milk, and a hot water dispenser, which is available to all patients and their families during your stay with us.

You are welcome to have visitors on the ward between 8am and 7pm, although we would recommend that you avoid having guests at mealtimes.

Patients are allowed to have one visitor, in addition to their nominated parent or carer that is staying with them on the ward. Please discuss with your nurse if you would like other children to visit you. 

For security purposes, all visitors should initially report to the reception before coming to see you. Occasionally, a member of the senior clinical team might restrict visitors if it is in your best interests. All visitor guidance is subject to the most recent advice relating to COVID-19, which can change at short notice, so please check the latest visitor policy with our team before your guests visit you. 

Please be aware that smoking is not allowed in the hospital and on the grounds. This policy relates to staff, patients, and visitors.

Infection can spread easily in hospitals. Please can you, your family, and your visitors help us:

- Regularly wash your hands and use hand sanitiser to keep hands clean

- Do not come to the hospital if you are suffering from colds, flu, or stomach bugs

- Visitors should wait 48 hours before visiting if they have had vomiting or diarrhoea.

- Adhere to any other infection control guidance issued by the hospital (e.g., mask wearing) if it is in place

If you have symptoms of a virus or a stomach bug just prior to admission, please call us in advance so that we can discuss the next steps with you.

We have a hospital pharmacy on site. Any prescriptions will be issued by your consultant and can be collected from there.

In almost all cases following an admission, your discharge date from hospital will be assessed by your clinical team. If there is any clinical reason to change this, your consultant and clinical team will agree your discharge date and time with you. If you need medication to take home, it will be prescribed for you and can be collected from the on-site pharmacy.

We recommend that you arrange for a family member or friend to collect you from the hospital. If you need to book a private vehicle, please speak to your advocate, who will be able to arrange this for you.