Southampton cancer ward named as worldwide centre of excellence

Southampton Children’s Hospital Paediatric Haematology and Oncology unit, Piam Brown, has been named a MASCC-Designated Centre of Excellence in Supportive Care in Cancer.

The Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) is an international, interdisciplinary organisation dedicated to the practice, education and research of supportive care in cancer. Their certification program recognises oncology centres worldwide that demonstrate best practices in supportive care in cancer. Southampton Children’s Hospital is one of just four hospitals in the UK to receive this certification.

To achieve this recognition, cancer care centres must demonstrate they are successfully integrating oncology and supportive services as well as upholding MASCC high standards and providing comprehensive services in supportive cancer care.

Based in Southampton Children’s Hospital, Piam Brown is one of 22 regional paediatric oncology and haematology units across the UK that treats children from birth to 16 years. The unit cares for approximately 120 new families every year and children are referred from all over Wessex, including Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Surrey, Sussex, the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands.

Freya Pearson, deputy chief medical officer at University Hospital Southampton, said “Patient care is at the heart of everything we do, so to be recognised with this award is a testament to the hard work of everyone in the Piam Brown team.

“We are incredibly lucky to have some of the best facilities and experts in cancer care here in Southampton and we are committed to providing the highest quality care and treatment to these young patients every day.”