Triage

Information alert box Telephone numbers

Monday to Sunday 8.00am - 8.00pm: 01865 572192

Out of hours Monday to Sunday 8.00pm - 8.00am: call Haematology / Oncology Ward direct and nurses will advise

Haematology Ward (haematology patients only): 01865 235048 / 9

Oncology Ward (oncology patients only): 01865 572192 / 235012

Our answerphone notes all numbers that call, and our staff try to return any missed calls.

Our specially trained nursing staff can assess your case by telephone, and also discuss it with haematology and oncology doctors 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

We aim to recognise potential emergencies and treat side effects and complications early, to reduce the need for hospital admission.

Symptoms investigated

• Generally feeling unwell
  
• Temperature of 37.5C or above
  
• Shivering, and/or feeling cold
  
• Cough or shortness of breath
  
• Rash
  
• Diarrhoea or constipation
  
• Persistent nausea or vomiting
  
• Uncontrolled pain
  
• Soreness or ulcers in mouth or throat
  
• Unexpected bleeding or bruising
  
• Infective contact e.g. Chickenpox
  
• Painful or red PICC / Hickman lines
  
• Sickle cell anaemia related issues
  
• Post CAR-T or stem cell transplant related issues
  
• Post bone marrow biopsy issues such as bleeding, pain or infection
  
• Anything abnormal to you or your body

For medication-related queries, please speak to Pharmacy staff:

Pharmacy

For appointment, scan or blood result queries, please contact your Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS):

Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS)

Coming to Triage

Location

Triage is on Level 1, Cancer and Haematology Centre, Churchill Hospital.

How to find the Churchill Hospital

Car travel and parking | Bus travel

From the main entrance take the stairs or lift immediately ahead of you, then turn left down the corridor towards the Oncology Ward. At the end of the corridor is a double door with a buzzer. Triage is to the right.

Open Monday to Sunday: 8.30am - 8.30pm.

Out of hours

Out of hours we can give you advice via telephone. If we advise you to come in for assessment, we may be able to provide a bed in a Churchill Hospital ward.

Alternatively, we may direct you to the Emergency Department (ED) or Ambulatory Assessment Unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital, where the General Medicine team can liaise with the Haematology team on call.

If you live outside the area, we may direct you to your nearest Emergency Department for appropriate assessment as soon as possible.

What to bring

Please bring all your regular medications, including anti-cancer medication you take at home, as well as any equipment you need for day-to-day activity, such as walking aids, stoma bags etc.

Please bring an overnight bag with some clothes and toiletries, in case we need to admit you.

Transport

Please arrange your own transport. If you are too unwell to travel yourself, have no one to bring you and cannot use a taxi, we may be able to arrange transport for you.

Patients who are very unwell may be taken by ambulance directly to the John Radcliffe Hospital or Horton General Hospital emergency departments, to receive treatment as quickly as possible.

Visitors

Each patient may bring no more than two visitors with them. They should not come if they have symptoms of a respiratory infection or feel unwell. Triage staff wear face masks while providing direct patient care.