RESUMEN
Aims To investigate the psychological care provided to children and young adolescents with cancer and their families within the National Children's Cancer Service (NCCS), Ireland, in respect of the national and international standards of care. Methods A retrospective audit of 316 referrals made over 32 months by the NCCS to the psychology service in malignant haematology and oncology was performed. Results The audit revealed that out of 316 patients, a yearly average of 189 (50%) of urgently referred patients received psychological support within the NCCS between January 2013 and August 2016. Furthermore only 20 (22%) undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), 14 (22%) referred to the paediatric palliative care team, and 84 (62%) of teenage patients received psychological input during this timeframe. Conclusion The audit revealed that the current psychology service provision is failing to meet the international standards of care. Due to the data provided by this audit, in conjunction with a clinical risk assessment of the service, funds for the post of principal psychologist have been secured. Further psychology posts (HSCT, late-effects and neuropsychology), and development of the psycho-oncology model of care are required to ensure equality of access and evidence-based psychological care for all children with cancer.
