Haematology Ward

During your time with us we aim to provide the highest standards of care. Whether you are here for a day or a number of weeks the team wants you, your family and friends to feel comfortable and well informed.

The ward has five rooms with two beds in each, and 15 single rooms. All rooms have an en-suite shower room and toilet.

We offer single rooms to the patients who need them most due to their illness or treatment.

Facilities

Relaxation / quiet areas

Day Room

We have a comfortable Day Room with tea and coffee-making facilities, fridge, microwave, toaster, dishwasher, television, DVDs, books and games. DVD players are available for use at the bedside.

Terrace

There is a small rooftop terrace accessible for wheelchairs. The terrace is open during the day, but closed in the evenings.

TYA Area

Our Teenage and Young Adults Area, funded by the Teenage Cancer Trust, is a place to relax, watch TV or play computer games.

Visitors' flat

There is a visitors' flat a few minutes' walk from the Cancer and Haematology Centre. This is for people who live some distance from Oxford and find it difficult to travel. Please contact the Ward Sister or Housekeeper if you would like to discuss using the flat.

What to bring

Medicines

Please bring your current medications, in their original containers, with you, and any information you might have about your current treatment.

Bedding and personal items

You are welcome to bring your own pillows, duvet and bed linen. You can also bring pictures to personalise your room. We provide soap and hand wash, but you are welcome to bring your own, as well as your own shampoo and toothpaste.

Clothing

We encourage you to bring in your own clothes and nightwear. Bring whatever is comfortable. Loose-fitting or short sleeves are best, to make it easier to access your intravenous tubes.

We are not able to wash your clothes, so please make arrangements for someone to take clothes home to wash.

Entertainment

You can bring your mobile phone, tablet and laptop with you. We advise you to bring your own device to watch films and television. We have free WiFi - 'OUH Guest'.

Please do not bring too much with you, so that your bed area is easy to keep clean.

Visiting

Please see Vistor FAQs

Many people on our ward are at high risk of infection. Do not come to the ward if you have recently been exposed to an infection, especially chickenpox.

Please use the hand rub at the ward entrance on entering and leaving the ward and hang outdoor coats outside patient rooms.

There are visitor toilets in the corridor. We may ask visitors to sit in the Day Room while we attend someone in the patient bay.

Unfortunately we cannot allow flowers or plants on the ward.

Meals and snacks

We serve meals at the following times:

• Breakfast: 8.00am
• Lunch: 12.00 noon
• Supper: 5.00pm - 6.00pm

We try to ensure that mealtimes are not disturbed by scan appointments and ward rounds.

We serve hot drinks several times a day and snack boxes are available. We can also provide food and drink supplements if you have poor appetite.

If friends/family bring in food for you, they can use the fridge and microwave in the Day Room to store and heat it.

Staff are not able to heat up meals that have been brought in from home for you.

Snacks

We keep snacks in the Day Room for you to help yourself. These include ice-cream, soup, ice lollies, tinned fruit and noodles.

We regularly stock up on snacks, so let us know if there is something you would like us to buy for you.

Daily routine

The day begins early at 6.00am - sometimes earlier.

Our patients need care and medications around the clock, but we try to end routine activities by around midnight.

We try and keep the ward as quiet as possible overnight, but there are sometimes disturbances that we cannot avoid.

We will encourage you to get out of bed and take gentle exercise as regularly as you can, but you can also rest whenever you need to. Many people say that it helps to establish a routine during a hospital stay, getting up and dressed in the morning as if you were at home.

Ward rounds / patient review

You will see a consultant or registrar every day. Nurses and ward doctors will check on you regularly.

Each Monday we have a multidisciplinary team meeting where we discuss each patient with the whole team.

If you would like to speak to a member of the team, please let us know and we will arrange it for you.

Our team

Our multidisciplinary team will support you during your stay.

Doctors

You will be under the care of a Consultant Haematologist who will see you on the ward round on Monday and Thursday mornings.

The consultants supervise a team of doctors who are responsible for prescribing and supervising your treatment and checking you regularly during your stay. If you wish to speak to your registrar or consultant, please let us know.

The Churchill Hospital is a teaching hospital for doctors, nurses and health professionals. We may ask your permission for a student to ask you questions or examine you. You are entitled to say no. This will not affect your care in any way.

Nurses

On each shift a registered nurse will care for you, supported by a clinical support worker or student nurse. There will always be a nurse managing the ward.

Most nurses work 7.30am - 8.00pm. Some staff work early shifts (7.30am - 2.00pm) or late shifts (2.00pm - 8.00pm). The night shift is from 7.30pm - 8.00am.

Ward Sister

The Ward Sister manages the ward and nursing staff. If you have any comments, concerns or queries please ask to speak to the Sister or Deputy. They regularly speak to patients on the ward to ensure patients are happy with the care they are receiving and make changes as a result of feedback.

Ward Clerk and Senior Ward Housekeeper

The Ward Clerk and Senior Ward Housekeeper can help you with practical things, for example car parking permits, sick certificates and transport arrangements.

Please always let the Ward Clerk know if you are leaving the ward.

Our Senior Ward Housekeeper and domestic staff keep the ward safe and make sure that cleanliness is kept to a high standard.

Dietitian and Nutritional Assistant

The Dietitian will help you to stay well-nourished during your stay. The Dietician also provides advice about coping with loss of appetite, sore mouth, and other potential problems with your diet.

Our Nutritional Assistant can help you choose meals and provide additional foods including high calorie drinks.

Therapists

You may see Physiotherapists or Occupational Therapists during your stay. They can help with your mobility and managing daily activities.

Discharge Co-ordinator

The Discharge Co-ordinator will speak to you when you begin your stay with us to identify the support you might need after you go home.

Hospital Palliative Care Team

The Hospital Palliative Care Team is a specialist group of doctors and nurses who offer support and advice on managing symptoms.

Contact us

Your family and friends can call the ward for information.

Tel: 01865 235048 / 9

If possible, please ask one person to contact the ward on behalf of your family and friends. This reduces the number of calls our staff have to answer.

You can bring your mobile phone to hospital with you.

We have a tablet available for individual video calls but we are unable to lend this for prolonged periods of time. Please bring your own device to hospital if possible.

Each bed has a Hospedia phone and TV system - you can buy pre-paid cards from the machine on the ward.

Find us

Haematology Ward
Level 1, Cancer and Haematology Centre
Churchill Hospital

How to find the Churchill Hospital

Enter through the Main Entrance and pass the shops on your right. You will find lifts on the left by the base of the stairway. Take the lift to Level 1, then turn left and left again and follow the signs. There is an intercom with a button to press to gain entry to the ward.

If you are coming up the stairs, head left at the top of the stairs and follow the signs.

For information on car parking please see:

• Car travel and parking
• Parking charges / concessions

Going home

We do all we can to make sure you are prepared for going home. Our Discharge Co-ordinator will speak to you about your home situation and your nurses and health care professionals will make careful assessments of what you might need. You and your family are encouraged to share information and ask questions about going home.

Support after you go home

If you are unwell after you go home, please contact our Triage service:

Oxford Triage Assessment Team
Level 1, Cancer and Haematology Centre
Churchill Hospital

Tel: 01865 572192
Seven days a week 8.00am - 8.00pm

Outside of these hours please call the Haematology Ward.

For non-urgent enquiries, you can also speak to your Nurse Specialist.

Follow-up

You will see your medical and nursing team in the Outpatients department after you go home.

Some people will come in for additional treatments in the Day Treatment Unit.