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1st November 2005 New helpline for children's cancer A new, free telephone service for families facing the unimaginable when their child is diagnosed with cancer, was launched on Monday 31 October 2005, by CLIC Sargent, the UK’s leading children’s cancer charity. Isabella, 7, from Kent, who has battled childhood cancer, unveiled the Helpline number with her sister Eloise, 4, in a playroom at University College London Hospital after CLIC Sargent research showed that families dealing with childhood cancer wanted one place to get information and a counselling service – someone to listen available to them outside the working day. Liz, Isabella’s mother, said: “When Isabella was on treatment I would have found it invaluable to know that there was someone to speak to whenever I needed to, whatever concerns I had. "Isabella’s now off treatment but even now I still have things that go through my head and it is wonderful to have this support. I’m sure other parents will really benefit from it too.” Every 48 hours, 10 more children are diagnosed with cancer or leukaemia. CLIC Sargent already provides support through 162 professional care staff in UK hospitals and the community across the UK, and has launched the Helpline to extend this service and make it even more accessible to those who might want someone to talk to, including parents, grandparents, siblings, friends and teachers. Geoff Thaxter, Director of Services at CLIC Sargent said: “We wanted to respond quickly to research and provide the Helpline to fill an information gap for families. "The Telephone Helpline Association has said that we have achieved in three months what normally takes a year in setting up this service. "We look forward to many, many families benefiting in the future”. Professor Andy Pearson, Chairman United Kingdom Children's Cancer Study Group (UKCCSG) said: "The Helpline is another example of the increasing support CLIC Sargent is providing to the families of children and young people with malignancy. The Helpline will be of great benefit to these families. I am very pleased that CLIC Sargent has rapidly responded to the findings of research and provided this service." Staffed by trained staff and volunteers and supported by the Samaritans, the service is anonymous and confidential, and offers callers local and national information on services for children with cancer. It also gives anyone involved with a child with cancer the chance to talk through their feelings, fears and worries and have someone listen to them, without judgement. Available from Monday to Friday 10-8 and on Saturday 10-4, the CLIC Sargent Helpline will initially run as a pilot project centred on seven major children’s cancer hospitals, but respond to any caller regardless of where they have come from. Maria Michelagnoli, Consultant Oncologist at UCLH, one of the pilot hospitals, said: “This new project for CLIC Sargent represents an important step forward in responding to the proven needs of parents and families. "Although we seek in the NHS to strive to meet information needs, there is a limit to what can be achieved. There is no doubt that incentives such as this hugely improve the cancer experience at such difficult times.” Feedback will be evaluated and acted upon, to ensure the service is meeting the needs of families, and the Helpline rolled out nationally in 2006. The Helpline number is 0800 197 0068.
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