Introduction to the haematology team

During your stay on the haematology wards and day unit and when you become an outpatient, your care will be provided by the haematology team. You will meet members of the haematology team at these times. Haematologists look after blood and related disorders.

To ensure continuity of care between hospital and community teams, it will be necessary to share data about your diagnosis and treatment with your GP, district hospital and any community teams involved in your care.

If you have any objection to this, please inform the haematology team looking after you.

The team consists of different disciplines working together to look after you.

One consultant at a time is in charge of the patients on the wards. You will meet them on the ward rounds on Mondays and Thursdays.

The consultants have their own areas of special interest and responsibility within haematology. Following discharge from the ward you will be under the care of the appropriate consultant. You will be told of your consultant once your diagnosis is made.

A team of specialist haematology registrars rotates throughout the wards, Outpatients Department and laboratories to support the consultants. Whilst an inpatient, you will meet these doctors on their daily ward rounds. Out of hours and at the weekends there is a rota of haematology doctors on call.

The ward nursing team

The haematology wards are C10, C9, D9 and L5H

The senior sisters lead the ward teams. You will be allocated a named nurse who co-ordinates your care and you will be cared for by nurses from one team. As well as the nursing staff, you will meet other staff on the ward including the ward clerk, ward assistants, physiotherapists, dietitian, and members of the palliative care team.

Haematology Day Unit

Once you are discharged from the ward you may need to attend the Haematology Day Unit to continue treatment or to monitor your blood counts.

Haematology specialist nurses

You will be allocated a haematology specialist nurse, who will meet you both on the ward and when you attend the Outpatients Department. These nurses are:

You will find contact telephone numbers for your specialist nurse in your information pack. The specialist nurse will assist you with any questions about your diagnosis and treatment, co-ordinate your care and provide telephone advice when you are at home.

Haematology clinical trials team

We may invite you to take part in one of the many clinical trials running in our unit. The trials are co-ordinated by a team of nurses and data managers. You may meet members of the trials team if you agree to participate.

Outpatients

When you attend for follow-up in the outpatients clinic or the Haematology Day Unit, you will see either a consultant or a haematology registrar. You may not see the same doctor at each clinic visit but they are all part of the haematology team. You will also see your specialist nurse in outpatients.

Shared care arrangements

If you live far away from Addenbrooke’s and have a district general hospital nearer to you, it may be possible for you to attend there for treatment, such as blood/ platelet transfusions or monitoring blood counts. We work very closely with local hospitals to ensure continuity of your care.

Privacy and dignity

Same sex bays and bathrooms are offered in all wards except critical care and theatre recovery areas where the use of high-tech equipment and/or specialist one-to-one care is required.