Global recognition for cancer unit at Southampton Children's Hospital
Southampton Children’s Hospital (SCH) has been recognised as a Centre of Excellence for outstanding supportive cancer care, making it one of only four hospitals in the UK to hold this prestigious status.
The haematology and oncology unit, Piam Brown, recently received the accolade for a second time from the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC), an international organisation dedicated to advancing supportive cancer care through clinical practice, education and research.
The MASCC recognises organisations leading the way in delivering patient-centred supportive cancer care alongside clinical treatment.
Assessment is based on a rigorous, evidence-based process, with organisations judged against international standards for the quality and integration of care.
This covers everything from symptom management and psychological support, to nutrition, pain control, research and education. Centres must provide detailed evidence and undergo peer review to demonstrate consistently high-quality care.
Based at Southampton Children’s Hospital, Piam Brown is one of 22 regional paediatric oncology and haematology units across the UK, treating children from birth to 16 years.
The unit supports around 120 new families each year, with referrals from across Wessex, including Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Surrey, Sussex, the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands.
Clinical nurse specialists (CNS) play a central role, supporting children and families from diagnosis onwards. They provide education, emotional support, symptom management, and coordinate care across hospital, community and hospice services.
Families benefit from expert psychosocial support through the Young Lives vs Cancer social work team, who help them adjust to diagnosis, access financial support, and navigate the challenges of treatment.
Their work includes coordinating psychosocial multidisciplinary team meetings and supporting families through treatment, survivorship and bereavement.
Specialist play staff help children understand and cope with treatment through therapeutic play. Using tools such as role play and the Beads of Courage programme, they enable children to express their feelings and build resilience.
Children are supported to continue their education through Southampton Hospital School, part of the Hamwic Education Trust. Teaching is tailored to each child’s needs, often delivered one-to-one, helping them stay connected to learning, sit exams and maintain a sense of normality during treatment.
The unit’s supportive care model is further strengthened through a dedicated paediatric oncology psychology service and the paediatric palliative care team.
The team also works closely with a range of charities, including Momentum, which provides exercise therapy to help children rebuild their strength, confidence and physical wellbeing during and after treatment, and Abby’s Heroes, which funds family support workers who are based on the ward and offer practical and emotional support to families as they navigate the challenges of a cancer diagnosis.
In addition to delivering specialist care, the team is helping to shape the future of supportive cancer care through research and its involvement in national and international initiatives aimed at improving outcomes and quality of life for children with cancer.
This includes the introduction of photobiomodulation (PBM), an innovative, evidence-based therapy used to prevent and manage treatment-related side effects. Through its involvement in the wider adoption of supportive care guidelines across the UK, Piam Brown is helping to embed cutting-edge approaches into routine clinical practice, ensuring children benefit from the latest advances in symptom management and supportive therapies.
Dr Georgina Bird-Lieberman, clinical lead for child health at Southampton Children’s Hospital, said: “This recognition highlights the exceptional commitment of our teams to delivering integrated, patient-centred care. Treating cancer is not just about clinical excellence – it’s about supporting children and their families throughout every stage of their journey.”
Dr Jessica Bate, paediatric oncology consultant and lead for the MASCC Centre of Excellence application at SCH, said: “Our team delivers compassionate, joined-up supportive care every day and we are incredibly proud of the difference they make. This award highlights the impact they have on children and families at a time when they need it most.”