Adolescent cancer - the need to evaluate current service provision in the UK

This article suggests that service provision for adolescents with cancer requires further attention by health service researchers. Evidence of the care needs of this patient group remains scarce, particularly in terms of evaluations of the available care settings in the UK. The authors discuss the challenges facing the adolescent cancer patient population, and discuss the findings from a recent ethnographic evaluation of one of the first specialist UK units dedicated to the care of adolescents with cancer. The implications for further evaluative research, education and staff-related concerns are explored in the light of the findings.