Paul’s House provides a non-clinical and welcoming environment for children and young people and their families coping with cancer. It is run by Young Lives vs Cancer, the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people.
It is one of nine Homes from Home the charity runs around the country. Homes from Home provide free accommodation near major treatment centres for children and young people up to the age of 24, and their families.
Paul’s House gives families a chance to be together in a caring and supportive environment near the hospital where treatment is taking place, so they do not have to travel long distances. Paul’s House was opened in 2010 and is less than 10 minutes’ walk from UCLH and the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre, where children and young people receive cancer treatment in central London.
The clinical team at UCLH works closely with Young Lives vs Cancer. The charity provides emotional, financial, practical and clinical support for families, children and young people dealing with cancer. Paul’s House provides accommodation for up to 16 families. It is named after Paul O’Gorman, whose parents founded the charity Children With Leukaemia after Paul and his sister died from cancer in 1987. Paul’s House enables children, young people and their families to stay together during cancer treatment and relax, as much as is possible, away from hospital. But they are still close enough to quickly get medical help if any problems arise.
The service is for children and young people being treated for cancer and their families. Children and young people being treated on an on-going basis, but who do not need to stay in a hospital bed overnight, can also stay at Paul’s House with their families. This is known as ‘ambulatory care’ and allows patients who are well enough to choose not to stay in the hospital.
Young people over 18 can stay at Paul’s House unaccompanied. Under 18s need to be with a parent or responsible adult.
Every situation is different, so it’s difficult to define a typical stay. Children and young people and their families staying at Paul’s House can make a meal, do their laundry or have a shower – or just relax together in a supportive environment away from hospital. How long they stay depends on their needs – it could be a few days or for weeks depending on treatment. Talk to the team looking after you to discuss how you can best make use of Paul’s House.
A patient’s clinical team will decide if this type of care is appropriate – there are very strict clinical criteria for anyone being treated on an ambulatory basis. Patients who receive treatment in this way are monitored every day and a clinical team is on-call 24/7. Paul’s House is a stone’s throw away from University College Hospital should an emergency arise.
No, Young Lives vs Cancer provides free accommodation near major treatment centres for children and young people and their families coping with cancer.
When a child or young person has been diagnosed at UCLH, the clinical team will refer them to the Young Lives vs Cancer social worker at the hospital to ensure that the needs of the patient and his or her family can be met – this may include staying in Paul’s House. It depends on the individual circumstances of a patient’s care and their family’s situation.
There is space for 16 families, some rooms have ensuite bathrooms and others have disability access – rooms are allocated according to clinical need and availability. There are three kitchens and a laundry.
Talk to the team looking after the patient – we will always work with you and there is no limit to the number of stays.
All accommodation is booked via the team providing your care and is subject to availability. Accommodation cannot always be guaranteed.
The team providing your care, including your Young Lives vs Cancer Social Worker, will be happy to provide further information about Paul's House.
