Shared care service models are preferred in the management of children and young people with cancer so that specialist expertise is available when needed but children can be supported near to where they live. Care is co-ordinated by a primary treatment centre. Nurses in one centre were concerned about the poor quality of communication between their centre and the shared care hospitals where their patients were being supported. An action research approach was used to improve the process of discharging a child or young person with cancer. This involved clarifying the responsibilities of the nursing staff, mapping out a new discharge pathway, developing new forms to support the education and communication activities and sharing the results with partners in the discharge process. The project highlighted the importance of effective discharge for the child or young person with cancer and their family and the risks of not doing this correctly.

Shared care service models are preferred in the management of children and young people with cancer so that specialist expertise is available when needed but children can be supported near to where they live. Care is co-ordinated by a primary treatment centre. Nurses in one centre were concerned about the poor quality of communication between their centre and the shared care hospitals where their patients were being supported. An action research approach was used to improve the process of discharging a child or young person with cancer. This involved clarifying the responsibilities of the nursing staff, mapping out a new discharge pathway, developing new forms to support the education and communication activities and sharing the results with partners in the discharge process. The project highlighted the importance of effective discharge for the child or young person with cancer and their family and the risks of not doing this correctly.