The onset of childhood cancer is sudden and unexpected, and the effect on the family unit can be enormous as they embark on a major life transition. Families of children with cancer have a high level of psychosocial needs due to the many challenges they may face during their child's cancer journey. Previous research indicates that the current healthcare system does not always meet these needs. This qualitative descriptive study aimed to explore the impact of a new Cancer Support Specialist Service from the perspective of the families and the multidisciplinary team. Data were collected using semi-structured one-to-one interviews. The impact on the family was increased emotional, practical, informational, and navigational support. The impact on the MDT included freeing up time for the clinical component of their work, decreasing worry that unmet needs for parents were not being addressed, and increasing access to timely flexible support for families. The knowledge advanced by this study can inform future planning of the Cancer Support Specialist Service.
Keywords: Childhood cancer; informal psychological support; parental needs; service evaluation.