Children and young people’s oncology outreach nurse specialists (CYPOONS)

What are CYPOONS?

We are based at the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle, which is the principal treatment centre for childhood and teenage cancer care for the Northern Region.

We have developed specific expertise in palliative care and symptom management for children and young people with advanced cancer.  Priority is given to providing an expert service for children and young people with progressive disease and their families, to enable them to be appropriately cared for in their preferred environment.  For these children and young people, we provide 24/7 urgent on call service to ensure timely and effective symptom management, in partnership with local and regional services.

We also act as the key worker for many children and young people from diagnosis throughout their treatment, ensuring continuity of care.

What is our role?

• Expert resource for children with progressive disease and their families
• Case management of care for children and young people who will die from their cancer
• Provision of support, information and guidance to reduce isolation and vulnerability and increase confidence, control and independence
• Enabling and supporting care at home where this is the chosen place of care
• Liaison and communication with other agencies
• Utilising local services to support complex care at home. This includes training and supporting other health care professionals to promote delivery of care at home
• Discharge planning in complex cases, discharge follow up, telephone advice and symptom management
• The majority of the team are practising non-medical prescribers

Darlington, County Durham, North Yorkshire, North Tees, South Tees, Hartlepool

• Kelly Mellett: 0191 282 0293
• Amanda Gerrard: 0191 282 4880
• Gail Forster: 0191 282 4788
• Hannah Fiddler: 0191 282 4788

Cumbria, Newcastle, Gateshead, Tyne Valley, Sunderland, South Tyneside, Northumberland, North Tyneside

• Laura Taylor: 0191 282 5167
• Caroline Inglis: 0191 282 5166
• Linda Coates: 0191 282 5193