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East Midlands Children and Young People Integrated Cancer Service (EMCYPICS) is a specialist cancer service for children and young people under the age of 19 years in the East Midlands. We have joint Principal Treatment Centres in Leicester and Nottingham Children’s Hospital.

Nottingham University Hospitals is the Principal Treatment Centre (PTC) for most surgery and radiotherapy plus high dose chemotherapy, and both PTCs provide inpatient, outpatient and day care.  The PTC is the hub for the EMCYPICS and works in partnership with acute, community, social and other care providers around the East Midlands to provide all elements of care for children and young people with cancer. The PTC works closely with Northampton and Lincolnshire Paediatric Oncology Shared Care Unit’s and the East Midlands Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) Integrated Cancer Service.

All children and young people with a suspected diagnosis of cancer or leukaemia will be referred in to the EMCYPICS service. A team of specialists will assess each patient, and plan their care.  This team includes children’s specialists in blood disorders (haematology), cancer care (oncology), scans and x-rays, pathology and surgical care (including a range of sub-specialty surgeons – general paediatric, ear nose and throat, brain, thoracic, orthopaedic and plastic surgery). The team will call on specialists as required, for example from radiotherapy (clinical oncology), pharmacy, pain control, anaesthesia and specialist children’s nurses responsible for your child’s care in hospital and at home.  

There are also supporting professionals who play key roles in assessing and helping each child and their family during and after treatment. They include: play leaders, youth workers, social workers, dieticians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, hospital school teachers, speech and language therapists, psychiatrists, clinical and neuro-psychologists.  These people meet together with the medical team and contribute to assessment and selection of patients who would best be helped with a particular approach. Children and young people under the care of EMCYPICS are discussed with members of the multi-professional team on a weekly basis.  There are twice weekly consultant ward rounds to assess patients on the wards, and daily ward rounds by the ward medical team to assess each patient.  There is a 24 hour (24/7) daily cover arrangement by specialist paediatric consultants to provide advice to the clinical teams.

Being diagnosed with cancer can turn your life upside down at any age. Teenagers and Young Adults (TYA) have specific needs due to their age that can create challenges at this difficult time. The East Midlands TYA service aims to provide specialist age appropriate care and emotional, psychological and social support to young people aged 13-24 who have been diagnosed with cancer, and to their family and friends.

There are specialist units throughout the UK that 13-24 year old's can access for treatment and support throughout their cancer journey. These are called Principal Treatment Centres (PTC) and are centralised within geographical regions. There are also Designated Centres that offer treatment in local hospitals.

For those aged 13-18 years old, national guidance recommends care be delivered in an age appropriate Teenage Cancer Trust unit at the Principal Treatment Centre (Nottingham Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham City Hospital or Leicester Royal Infirmary). Those aged 19 to 24 have the choice to be treated locally in a Designated Centre (where approved) or in a Principal Treatment Centre.

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