Onc Around the Clock: timing of oncology PICU admissions

Professor Jonathan Round, Professor of Practice in Clinical Education and Consultant Paediatric Intensivist, provides insights into research examining the timing of unplanned oncology admissions to paediatric intensive care. Drawing on PICANet data, he describes differences in admission patterns and mortality across the day and night. He explores possible explanations, including variation in admission decisions and patient selection, while distinguishing these hypotheses from conclusions the available data can establish. The interview highlights the value of large datasets in identifying questions for further investigation and the need for prospective research to understand the pathways and outcomes of children with cancer who require intensive care.

This interview took place at the PCCS Annual Scientific Meeting 2026 in London.