Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS)

Clinical Nurse Specialists are a central part of your healthcare team. They help to join up the different aspects of your care. They play an important role in maximising your wellbeing and quality of life.

All of the CNSs are experienced cancer nurses. They have completed additional training in areas including advanced communications skills.

Your CNS will provide:

• a contact point for you at any stage
  
• information about your illness and treatment
  
• help with physical symptoms such as pain, fatigue or nausea
  
• someone to talk to about worries or problems
  
• advice about your treatment and the side effects
  
• advice about relationship, fertility or sexual issues
  
• support and advice for your family, relatives and friends
  
• signposting to other sources of support and advice.
  

Your CNS will also work with health professionals, GPs and carers in the community to support you at home.

The Haematology Department also has a Macmillan Support Worker who works with the CNS Team. The Support Worker provides information and support for people with cancer and carries out Holistic Needs Assessments - see below.

You may see the Clinical Nurse Specialist when you are on the Haematology Ward, whilst having chemotherapy treatment in the Haematology Day Treatment Unit or in the Outpatient Department.

If you are receiving treatment in the Brodey Centre at the Horton Hospital you will not be able to meet your CNS in person but you can contact your CNS by phone or email.

Some Clinical Nurse Specialists run telephone clinics and some can also prescribe medications to support your during treatment.

Holistic needs assessment

If you have cancer, your CNS or support worker will offer you a holistic needs assessment (HNA) This is an opportunity to talk about your situation in detail and identify areas where you need support. They will offer you a Personalised Care Plan following the assessment.

You don't have to have an HNA if you don't want one. You might want to arrange one for later on, and you can ask for one at any time by contacting your CNS.

For more information about holistic needs assessments please visit:

Holistic Needs Assessments - Macmillan Cancer Support

Life after treatment

Your CNS can provide advice and support for people who have finished treatment. This includes:

• a summary of your treatment
• information about long-term side-effects of treatment
• information about health and wellbeing workshops that are organised in partnership with national charities.

For more information about workshops for people with lymphoma, please visit:

Lymphoma Action - Live Your Life

Support groups

The CNS Service is involved in support groups for people who affected by blood cancers and red cell disorders. Some of these groups are run by local volunteers or by local branches of national charities. Ask your CNS for more information about this.

For information about national and local support organisations please see Support.

Contact us

Clinical Nurse Specialists

• Myeloma Service: 01865 227430
• Lymphoma Service: 01865 235283
• CLL Service: 01865 235284
• Red Cell Service: 01865 227826
• Bone Marrow Transplant Service: 01865 223486
• Myeloid Service: 01865 235287

Answerphones are in use if we are not in the office when you call. We will respond to your message as soon as possible.

Urgent problems

If you are worried that you need urgent attention, for example if you are on treatment and have a temperature of 37.5 degrees or above, or if you feel very unwell, we have a dedicated Triage Assessment Team.

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

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

Outside of these hours please call the Haematology Ward.