https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/news/gosh-welcomes-the-children-and-young-people-cancer-taskforce/
GOSH welcomes the Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce
6 Feb 2024, 4:47 p.m.
Great Ormond Street Hospital was the setting for the announcement of a new Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce as part of the World Cancer awareness day.
As part of the project, clinicians, researchers and charities will come together next month to discuss the current cancer care available to children and young people in England, and how best to improve it.
The discussions will focus on genomic testing and treatment, cancer detection and diagnosis, and research and innovation.
The announcement was made by Victoria Atkins, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, who visited GOSH along with Dame Caroline Dinenage, to hear about our work to improve children’s cancer care and find better, kinder treatments. They visited the Chapel, our Lion, Elephant and Giraffe Wards and the Genomic Medicines Service.
Children and Young People Cancer Taskforce
The project will be led by Dame Caroline, who has been campaigning for a Childhood Cancer Mission, along with one of her constituents as part of Sophie’s Legacy.
Professor Darren Hargrave, who has worked at GOSH for 13 years to help develop better treatments for children with cancer, said: “Every day we work with incredibly brave children to try and treat their cancer and get them back to doing everything they want to be doing, such as going to school, playing with their friends and spending time with their family.
“We owe it to them to find them the best, most effective and kindest cancer treatments we can.
“Children and young people must be front and centre when looking at how to improve cancer care across the country.”
Dr Angela George, Co-Medical Director North Thames Genomic Medicine Service at GOSH said: “We are delighted to see that genomics is forming such a focus of this new government taskforce on children’s cancer care. We know how transformative cutting-edge genomics can be to improve healthcare and we are looking forward to being involved in the discussions and future plans.”
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