The acute leukaemia multidisciplinary team (MDT)

Once we know all of your test results, we will talk to you in detail about your options and treatment plan.

It’s important that you understand what your treatment involves. Please ask us about any aspect of your care plan and we will do our best to give you clear answers. We will also give you written information about your diagnosis and treatment. If there is anything you don’t understand or if you have any questions about the written information, please ask us.

You may find it helpful to write down any questions you would like to ask us before your appointment. Patients often tell us that having the questions written down is a good reminder to ask them. You can also bring a relative or friend with you to the clinic. They can help you to remember what has been discussed and offer you support.

Leukaemia consultants
Leukaemia consultants are haematologists who specialise in diagnosing and treating leukaemia. They are also experts in the treatment of cancer with drugs, either chemotherapy or targeted treatments. You will see your consultant or a member of their team during your clinic appointments.

Clinical oncologists
Clinical oncologists are doctors who specialise in the treatment of cancer with radiotherapy.

Clinical nurse specialists (CNSs)
The acute leukaemia CNSs are senior nurses and experts in caring for people with acute leukaemia. They provide information, support and clinical advice throughout diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. One of the acute leukaemia CNSs will also be your key worker. This means that they will be the main point of contact for you, your family and any professionals involved in your care.

Your key worker is: _____________________________________

If your key worker is away, another acute leukaemia CNS will be available to support you.

Macmillan support workers

The support workers work alongside the CNS team and support them in their day-to-day activities. As they are not medically qualified, they are unable to give medical advice. They can liaise with the relevant teams on your behalf instead. They can also make referrals to other services. These include welfare and benefits advice or wig and scarf tying advice.

Acute leukaemia research team

We run a range of research studies and clinical trials aimed at improving knowledge, treatment and outcomes in leukaemia care.

• Research studies usually involve giving a sample of blood or doing a questionnaire.
• Clinical trials may involve taking a new drug or having a new procedure.

Your doctor will talk to you about any research studies and clinical trials that may be suitable for you. If you choose to take part in a clinical trial, a research nurse/clinical trial practitioner will be your main contact during that time. They will also give you any relevant information when needed. It is up to you whether you wish to get involved. If you decide not to take part, or if you choose to withdraw at any time, your treatment may change but you can expect the same level of care.

If you have any questions about research, please speak to your doctor or CNS. They can put you in touch with the research team.

Haematology pharmacy team
Haematology pharmacists will advise you on any medicines or chemotherapy prescribed for you. You will meet a pharmacist in the clinic, usually after your consultation. Please bring a list of all the medicines you take to your clinic appointment. The pharmacy team also see patients in Daycare, Ambulatory Care and on the wards.

Pathology team
The pathology team specialise in diagnosing acute leukaemia from tissue samples (biopsies).

Radiology team
The radiology team specialise in analysing images from PET, CT and MRI scans to confirm diagnosis.

Transplant team
The transplant team specialise in stem cell and bone marrow transplants.

MDT coordinator for the acute leukaemia team

The MDT coordinator:

• makes sure that new patients are reviewed promptly
• organises the transfer and analysis of scans and biopsies
• takes notes and documents the outcome of the MDT meetings.

Other members of the MDT (as applicable)

There are other specialists who are part of the extended MDT. They include physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, counsellors and dietitians. You may be referred to these specialists if appropriate.

The acute leukaemia MDT meets every week to discuss the diagnosis and treatment plan of individual patients. They make sure that each patient receives the same high standard of care and has the most appropriate tests and treatment.

The recommendations about your treatment plan will be recorded in your notes. It is likely that you will have an appointment with your consultant and/or CNS to discuss this further. Or you may need to have more tests. Sometimes it may be more appropriate to refer you to another specialist team. We will let you know if this is the case.

We will inform your GP of your diagnosis and include them in all correspondence about your treatment and care. We will copy you into this correspondence as well. If there is anything you don’t understand in the letters that you receive, please speak to your consultant at your next appointment or call your key worker.

The acute leukaemia outpatient clinic is on Tuesday afternoons.

Please note: If you feel unwell or have cold or flu symptoms (runny nose, sore throat, cough or fever), contact your CNS before coming for your appointment.

During your appointment you will see a consultant or specialist registrar, and your key worker or CNS. A specialist registrar is a doctor training in a specialist field of medicine to become a consultant. The support worker may also be present. We are a large centre for people with acute leukaemia and we receive referrals from around the country. This means our clinics are
busy and may run behind schedule. We will do our best to see you as near to your appointment time as possible but delays may happen.

This is usually because some consultations take longer than planned to meet the patients’ needs. The clinic reception staff will keep you updated if this happens. You can also ask them for an update if you’re worried.

If you would like to see a specific doctor, you can request it at the clinic reception. Please note that this may mean a longer waiting time. You may choose to bring a book, magazine or a tablet with you to help you pass the time while you are waiting.

If you are having a follow-up appointment in the clinic, you should have your blood test taken before your consultation. This is to make sure that we have all the information we need to be able to plan your treatment.

You can have your blood test taken on the lower ground floor of the Cancer Centre on the day of your face-to-face appointment. If you have a telephone consultation, you may need to have your blood test a couple of days in advance. We will discuss this with you in more detail if needed. You can now book your blood test using a new system called Swiftqueue. Scan the QR code on the right using your smartphone. Or visit the UCLH website and search for ‘blood tests’ or ‘phlebotomy’. If you have any problems with booking your blood test, speak to your CNS or support worker.

The nursing teams on the haematology wards are led by a senior nurse called a charge nurse or ward sister. They care for people with blood conditions who receive complex chemotherapy, radiotherapy and stem cell transplants. The medical team caring for you during your stay in hospital will visit and review you on a daily ward round. A consultant haematologist on duty will also see you on Tuesday and Friday ward rounds.

Please note: Doctors working on the wards rotate regularly.

Where possible, we will do our best to offer you continuity of care from both the nursing and medical staff.

There may be times when we need to move you to a different haematology ward, for example an isolation ward. This can happen if you develop an infection that could spread to other patients. If there are no beds available on the haematology wards on the day of your planned admission, we may need to postpone it. Or we will admit you to a non-haematology ward until a bed on a haematology ward becomes available. If you are on a non-haematology ward, the haematology nursing and medical teams will visit you daily.

Patients admitted as an emergency would also initially stay on a non-haematology ward.

The inpatient team contact details

University College Hospital,
235 Euston Road,
London NW1 2BU
Switchboard: 020 3456 7890
Ward T16 North extension numbers: 71683 / 71684

Grafton Way Building,
1 Grafton Way,
London WC1E 6JN
Switchboard: 020 3456 7890
Extension numbers:
Grafton Way 2 East: 68177 / 68123
Grafton Way 2 North: 68137 / 68174
Grafton Way 3 East: 68150 / 68175
Grafton Way 3 North: 68149 / 68178
Grafton Way 4 East: 68172 / 68169

There is a dedicated Teenage and Young Adult Service for people with blood conditions aged 24 or under. If you choose to have your treatment here, a young adult team will support you.

Many patients with acute leukaemia have some or all of their tests and treatment in Daycare or Ambulatory Care. Daycare is led by senior nurses who manage a large team of specially trained nurses, support staff and doctors. It is divided into two parts:

• Supportive Care Unit. This is where outpatient procedures take place, such as blood transfusions or bone marrow tests. The team also assess and care for unwell patients. If you become unwell at home during normal working hours, your CNS may ask you to come to the Supportive Care Unit if you live nearby.
• Chemotherapy Daycare is where most chemotherapy treatments take place.

The Ambulatory Care Unit is where patients can have their treatment during the day and stay in a nearby hotel overnight. The acute leukaemia team will advise you on the best setting for you to have your treatment. They will talk to you about this in detail.

We have more information about the Supportive Care Unit, Chemotherapy Daycare and Ambulatory Care Unit. Please ask staff for copies of our leaflets.

The Daycare and Ambulatory Care team contact details:

University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
Huntley Street,
London WC1E 6AG
Chemotherapy Daycare (Second Floor): 020 3447 3893
Ambulatory Care Unit (Second Floor): 020 3447 8695
Supportive Care Unit (Fourth Floor): 020 3447 1808

people with cancer and blood conditions, and their families, friends
and carers. It offers:

• complementary therapies, such as massage and relaxation
• diet and nutrition advice
• emotional support, advice and information
• psychological care and counselling
• welfare and benefits advice
• wig and scarf tying advice
• a programme of workshops, courses and events.

If you would like to use any of these services, please talk to your CNS or a Macmillan support worker. You can also drop in to talk to one of the support and information specialists.

Address:

University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
Ground Floor, Huntley Street,
London WC1E 6AG

Tel: 020 3447 8663 or 020 3447 3816
Email: uclh.supportandinformation@nhs.net
Website: uclh.nhs.uk/msis
Opening hours: 9am to 4.45pm, Monday to Friday

PALS is a patient-friendly, easy-to-access service designed to provide a personal contact point to assist patients, relatives and carers. If you have a problem that you have been unable to resolve, PALS can help you.

The University College Hospital PALS office is located on the ground floor of the main hospital building and is open from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.

Telephone: 020 3447 3042
Email: uclh.PALS@nhs.net

Blood Cancer UK
Supports anyone worried about blood cancer with expert information and advice.
Tel: 0808 2080 888
bloodcancer.org.uk

Macmillan Cancer Support
Offers information, support and advice for anyone affected by cancer.
Tel: 0808 808 00 00
macmillan.org.uk

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust cannot accept responsibility for information provided by external organisations.

Haematology telephone line

We have a dedicated telephone line for all patient queries. It is managed by the haematology administrative staff.

Haematology telephone line: 020 3447 7359
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

You can call this number if you wish to speak with your CNS, key worker or the support worker. The staff will also help with any administrative queries, such as appointment changes. If there is no one to take your call, you can leave a voicemail message. A member of staff will call you back as soon as they can.

Out-of-hours advice

If you have a problem out of hours, call our urgent advice line. The line is managed by a senior staff nurse. The nurse will either offer advice, or consult with the haematology doctor on call.

Urgent advice line: 07852 220900
Evenings, weekends and bank holidays

For more information on our service and team, please see our website: uclh.nhs.uk/blooddiseases

Make a note of your clinicians' names and the department's contact details, for future reference.