A.R.T at Addenbrooke's
The Adam Rogers Trust (A.R.T) are organising a London to Cambridge cycle ride in aid of Children's Services at Addenbrooke's.
Sunday 18 May 2008
The ride finishes at Addenbrooke's at about 4pm
Nearly 100 people are taking part to raise £400,000 towards a total of £800,000 to fund a specialist cancer care team for children at Addenbrooke's.
For more information or to make a donation go to the Adam Rogers Trust website: www.adamrogerstrust.org
The Adam Rogers Trust (A.R.T)
The Adam Rogers Trust (Charity No 1118801) was set up in memory of Adam Rogers who died of a brain tumour in 2006 at the age of 13. The charity has two purposes, to raise money to help children with cancer and to support charities that help adults with learning difficulties and brain injuries to live and work in the community. All funds raised in the following appeal to help children with cancer at Addenbrooke's Hospital, where Adam was treated, will be paid direct to Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust by the Adam Rogers Trust.
Addenbrooke’s Hospital needs a specialist cancer care team for children
The hospital is highly regarded for the excellence of care provided for its paediatric cancer patients. However, although core medical treatments are met from the hospital’s budgets there is a real challenge to provide high levels of continuing care once the children leave hospital. The medical team on Ward C2, the children’s oncology ward, have put together a proposal for what is considered to be a vital part of the ongoing care and management of the children, both in hospital and once they go home.
The Adam Rogers Trust (A.R.T) is aiming to raise £800,000 to fund a team of specialists (the A.R.T Care Team) who will provide these services for three years.
Addenbrooke’s have given a commitment to continue funding the team after the initial three year start up period.
The Background
Addenbrooke’s treats approximately 800 children from all over the east of England for cancer each year. Over 70% of these children can now expect to be cured. Around 120 of them will be new inpatients with suspected cancer. Treatment can last weeks and sometimes years during which time the children will spend a variable amount of time in hospital or at home. Other patients will be attending follow-up clinics to monitor their disease for recurrence or for late management of their disease.
Where possible this is managed with shared care hospitals in the region to allow families to be as close to home as possible. For children whose treatment is not successful, symptom control and end of life care is managed at home if that is what the families wish.
The A.R.T. Care Team will aim to provide a continuum of care from Addenbrooke’s to hospitals and local community teams in the region and to home, giving specialist therapies and psychological support allowing the best quality of life for the child and the whole family throughout their cancer journey.
The A.R.T Care Team
The team will consist of specialists, working from Ward C2, who will provide the following services:
Liaison
Close liaison with all involved with a family both at Addenbrooke’s, in the district hospital, local general practice or schools to make sure that specialist advice is available and that care is coordinated for each family whenever possible at or close to home. Support for schools is essential in promoting the reintegration of the child in to school both educationally and socially wherever possible.
Social Support
Ensuring that patients and families have access to state help and organisations that can provide help and support in the community.
Therapy
Including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, language therapy (particularly relevant for those children who have received treatment for a brain tumour, some of whom will require intensive rehabilitation to achieve the maximum recovery). This therapy may be either through direct involvement with the child or by support and specialist advice and education to local teams within the region who can deliver care close to home.
Psychological support
For the child and family: this involves preparing children for surgery or painful procedures and supporting them through treatment (counselling, role play, play therapy). It also includes support for the whole family, all of whom will be affected by the diagnosis of childhood cancer.
Palliative care
To achieve the best quality of life for as long as possible, providing expertise in symptom control such as the management of pain, breathlessness and swallowing difficulties.
End of life care
For the child and the family.
The creation of the Adam Rogers Trust Care Team is a groundbreaking initiative in paediatric cancer care.