Outpatients

Clinics

The clinic for your condition will be on a fixed day or days each week.

Because of high demand for clinic rooms, it is difficult for us to offer alternative days of the week.

• Myeloid Clinic
  Tuesday and Thursday afternoons
• Lymphoma Clinic
  Tuesday mornings and Thursday afternoons
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) Clinic
  Thursday afternoons
• Myeloma Clinic
  Tuesday mornings, Wednesday and Friday afternoons
• Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Clinic
  Most days except Mondays, depending on what kind of transplant you have
• Haemoglobinopathies Clinic
  Friday mornings
• Immunohaematology Clinic
  Wednesday mornings (clinics also held at Oxford Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre)

Waiting times

We try to keep waiting times to a minimum, but there may be delays. We know this is frustrating, and we appreciate your understanding and patience. Please ask the Receptionist for an estimated waiting time.

If you would like to leave the department to get refreshments, we can give you a pager. We will page you when it is time for your consultation.

Telephone / video consultations

Sometimes we offer telephone or video appointments, instead of asking you to come in and see us face to face.

These appointments might be at different times to the stated clinic times above - we will give you the information you need.

Leaflet

Video and telephone appointments - information for patients in Haematology and Oncology (pdf)

Our team

You might see several different people at your appointment, depending on what advice you need.

Our team includes:

• Doctors
• Clinical Nurse Specialists
• Research Nurses
• Care Support Workers
• Dietitian
• Pharmacist
• Palliative Care Support Team
• Administrators.

Students

Oxford University Hospitals is a teaching trust, so there may be students present in the department. We will ask your permission if a student might be present at your appointment.

Your appointment

What to expect

Please bring your appointment letter with you, if you have one. Check in at Reception, opposite the entrance. We will ask you to confirm your name and date of birth, and take a seat in the waiting area.

A Care Support Worker may ask you to step on the scales before your appointment, so we can check your weight.

Your doctor or nurse will call you when they are ready. If you have hearing difficulties, please sit close to the door to the clinic rooms - our Receptionist will direct you.

You will usually see your Consultant or a Specialist Registrar, an experienced haematology doctor who works closely with your Consultant. You might also see your Clinical Nurse Specialist.

You will have regular appointments during your care at our hospital - we will give you details.

Making the most of your appointment

It can help to prepare for your appointment in advance.

• Think about what you want to know, and what you don't want to know.
  
• Bring a written list of questions to ask, as it is easy to forget things.
  
• Bring a list of all the medications you are currently taking.
  
• Bring a relative or friend, as important discussions and decisions may be made about your treatment: having someone there to listen, ask questions and to support you may be helpful.
  
• Make notes so that you don't forget what you have been told.
  
• Ask for written information, as this may help you understand what you have been told verbally.
  
• Ask to be directed to further information and support.
  
• Check with the doctor what you should do if you are unwell at home, and who to call if you have questions or concerns.

At the end of your consultation the doctor will give you a form to take to Reception to book your next appointment.

Blood tests

You are likely to need regular blood tests as part of your care. Your doctor may ask you to have some blood taken by the Phlebotomist while you are in the department.

Phlebotomist

Monday to Thursday 9.00am - 5.00pm

Friday 9.00am - 4.00pm

Your doctor will give you a request card and ask you to take a ticket from the machine and take a seat in Waiting Area A until your number is called.

The request card will tell the Phlebotomist what blood tests are needed.

We may also give you some blood request cards to enable you to have blood taken at your GP surgery before your next appointment.

You will need to contact your GP surgery in advance to arrange this, so that the blood samples are taken in time for the results to be available at your next clinic appointment.

Prescriptions

If your doctor gives you a prescription you will usually have to take it to the hospital Pharmacy. You may have to wait an hour or so for the medication to be dispensed.

Alternatively, if you live locally, drop the prescription off there and collect the medication the next day.

Prescriptions are free for people over the age of 60, and also for people under 60 with certain conditions, including a cancer diagnosis.

You may be entitled to free prescriptions and support with other medical costs.

Who can get free prescriptions

Check what help you could get to pay for NHS costs - NHS Business Services Authority

Find us

Our Outpatient Department is on Level 0 of the Cancer and Haematology Centre at the Churchill Hospital.

How to find the Churchill Hospital

To find us from the main hospital entrance, head towards the staircase with the shops on your right. Walk past the lifts and staircase and take the first left. Outpatients in on the left about halfway along the corridor.

You can also use the alternative entrance opposite Maggie's Centre. Turn right after you come through the double doors.