Charity opens youth brain tumour support service

Tom's Trust said it expected to offer an additional 300 appointments every year

A children’s brain tumour charity has opened a new clinical psychology service for children and young people in the Thames Valley.

Tom’s Trust will provide mental health support to patients facing a brain tumour diagnosis and their families at the John Radcliffe Children’s Hospital in Oxford.

The charity said it expected to offer an additional 300 appointments each year.

Dr Jeni Tregay, from Oxford University Hospitals (OUH), said the service would increase "both the depth and breadth of psychological care that patients and their families receive".

The paediatric neuro-oncology service at the Children’s Hospital is the principal treatment centre for the Thames Valley, reaching Swindon, Milton Keynes, Slough, Wycombe, Reading, and areas of Northamptonshire.

Tom’s Trust said that there were about 30-40 children and young people diagnosed with brain tumours in the region every year.

The paediatric neuro-oncology service at the Children’s Hospital has become the principal treatment centre for the Thames Valley

Chief executive Rebecca Wood said the team was "proud" to help more families.

She said: "We are fundraising hard to develop and sustain this brilliant new service as well as to allow us to plan our next two services to help families in other parts of the UK.”

The charity called brain tumours "emotionally, physically, and mentally devastating" and said many children experienced "serious mental health issues" such as PTSD and depression.

It added that early intervention "can reduce the likelihood of long-term disabilities".

Supporting one child and their family costs the trust £3,335 per year.

Dr Tregay, who is a paediatric clinical neuropsychologist, said there was "a high level of unmet need that extends beyond active treatment".

She said the trust was "very grateful" that there would now be a fully funded Tom’s Trust clinical psychologist post "so that we can begin to change this".

“With the [new service], we will be able to increase both the depth and breadth of psychological care that patients and their families receive," she added.