Information for patients and families
Resources
Please find below some age specific leaflets and guidebooks that
we hope you find useful.
A colourful and beautifully illustrated booklet aimed at young
children preparing for a stem cell transplant. It follows the
story of Ben, from his initial visit to the stem
cell transplant service through treatment, managing side
effects, exploring emotions and what happens after discharge from
hospital. This booklet is provided by the CCLG (Children's Cancer
and Leukaemia Group).
A colourful booklet aimed at teenagers and young
adults preparing for a stem cell transplant, also provided by
the CCLG.
If a sibling is a match for a patient, we can also carry out the
full donor work up and bone marrow harvest at Bristol Children's
Hospital (or arrange for the peripheral blood stem cell
collection). All sibling donors are reviewed by independent
assessors for the HTA (Human Tissue Authority) to ensure full
adherence to the HTA guidelines.
Jess's bone marrow donation is an award-winning colourful
booklet provided by CCLG aimed at young children preparing to
donate bone marrow for a relative.
Accommodation
If they do not live in Bristol, it is likely that our patients
and their carer(s) will need to stay in hospital accommodation for
a minimum of two months, including the 'conditioning', in-patient
and also outpatient periods. We are able to provide accommodation
for 2 adults and 2 children. Please find information about the type
of accommodation we offer below.
Sam's House
This is a home-from-home funded by the children's cancer charity
CLIC Sargent . It has 16 en-suite self-catering rooms with shared
kitchen, dining and living areas, spread across three floors with a
garden and play area. Please note that there is no parking at
Sam's House.
CLIC House
CLIC House is also funded for by CLIC Sargent. It is comprised
of three Grade-II listed Victorian properties providing 15 bedrooms
for families of children being treated for all cancers at Bristol
Children's Hospital. Families will sometimes stay at CLIC House if
Sam's, Rhys and Charly's are full, as it is typically for shorter
stay patients.
Premier Apartments
These are one and two bedroomed self-contained apartments, each
with a private kitchen and bathroom. Premier apartments are used
when Sam's, Rhys' and Charly's Houses are full, or if a patient is
infectious. Parking can be arranged at Premier Apartments, but it
is limited and depends on availability.
Premier Inn
We sometimes use Premier Inn if all our other accommodation is
full. Breakfasts and parking can be provided for patients and
families staying here.
Play
Specialists
Play and entertainment on the Bone Marrow Transplant unit is
provided by the Play Department, working in partnership with the
Multi-Disciplinary team.
The Play Specialist aims to be the child or young person's
advocate during their stay, speaking out for them and supporting
them and their families at all times.
Play and activities are provided according to individual needs
and interests.
Through participation in a wide range of arts & crafts,
games and freely chosen activities the Play Specialist aims to help
make the hospital stay a positive one; children and young people
will also have access to sensory equipment, music and age
appropriate toys.
By using a variety of techniques such as preparation &
distraction the Play Specialist is able to support children and
young people during procedures and treatments, isolation and long
term admissions which will help to reduce anxiety, increase
understanding of treatments and build confidence.
The Play Specialist can offer support with specific preparations
for treatments that may occur during a stay on BMT for example,
port or lineinsertion, radiotherapy, moulds and scans by using a
variety of tailor made preparation materials such as teddies or
dolls with ports and lines inserted. The children are able to
visit treatment areas of the hospital i.e. radiotherapy suits and
scanners with the Play specialist where they will meet other
members of the multi-disciplinary team.
Through the role of play younger children can learn about
treatment and procedures which the Play Specialist can support
using appropriate language to allay any fears or misconceptions
that children may have. The Play Specialist can create safe
and secure environment for children to ask questions and expresses
their thoughts and feelings.
Siblings can be supported with access to play rooms and the play
centre on level 5, where they will be offered activities and play
opportunities. The Play Specialists can also offer emotional
support to siblings and ensure they have the chance to express
their thoughts and ask questions.
Any hospital admission can be difficult but by working with
children, young people and their families on carefully designed
treatment plans we can help to make the experience a positive one
and give children and young people some feeling of control and
involvement in their treatment.
