Lymphoma 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 feel free to ask us about any aspect of your care plan and we will do our best to give you clear answers.

You may find it helpful to write down any questions you would like to ask us before your appointment.

Lymphoma consultants
Lymphoma consultants are haematologists who are experts in diagnosing and treating lymphomas. 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 lymphoma CNSs are senior nurses and experts in caring for people with lymphoma. They provide information, support and clinical advice throughout your diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.

One of the lymphoma CNSs will 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.

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

Macmillan lymphoma support worker
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.

The lymphoma support worker will try to meet you on your first visit to UCLH to tell you about the services and support available. They will offer you a Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA) to help to identify any issues or concerns you may have. This will include questions about your general wellbeing and practical needs. Following an HNA, the team looking after you can offer you the most appropriate care plan.

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.

Lymphoma research team
We run a range of research studies and clinical trials aimed at improving knowledge, treatment and outcomes in cancer 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.

Pathology team
The pathology team specialise in diagnosing lymphoma from blood and tissue samples (biopsies).

Radiological team
The radiological team specialise in staging of lymphoma from PET, CT and MRI scans.

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

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

The lymphoma 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 bring them to your next appointment. We will be happy to talk about any questions you may have.

The lymphoma outpatient clinics take place on:

• Monday afternoons
• Tuesday afternoons
• Thursday mornings.

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.

In the clinic 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 lymphoma centre and we receive referrals from around the country. This means that 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 may 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.

Wear comfortable clothes to your appointment and bring a book or a tablet with you. This will help you pass the time while you are waiting.

Where appropriate, we hold telephone appointments instead of face-to-face ones. If your consultation with the doctor is over the phone, we will let you know in advance.

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 or search visit uclh.nhs.uk and search for ‘blood tests’ or ‘phlebotomy’.

If you have any problems with booking your blood test, speak to your CNS or support worker.
 

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.

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 people with lymphoma 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 lymphoma 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.

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

Once you have finished your treatment you will have an end of treatment clinic appointment. This appointment will be with a lymphoma CNS. The CNS will talk to you about follow-up and give you information on any long-term risks and side effects to look out for.

They will also invite you to attend an after-treatment event called a health and wellbeing event. This usually takes place at the Macmillan Support and Information Service.

The patient-initiated follow-up is a form of follow-up for people who have responded well to their treatment. It offers support and education to help you to take charge of your care and wellbeing.

It also allows you to arrange a lymphoma-related follow-up appointment as and when you need it. This replaces routine hospital appointments.

When your follow-up period finishes, we will discharge you to the care of your GP. We will let you know when this may be.

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

The Macmillan Support and Information Service is available to 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
   

Haematology telephone line
This is a dedicated telephone line for all patient queries. It is managed by the haematology secretarial and administrative staff: Tel: 020 3447 7359 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 5pm)

You can call this number if you wish to speak with your CNS, key worker or the support worker, or leave a message for them. The staff will also help with any administrative queries. For example if you’d like to reschedule an appointment. If there is no one to take your call, leave a voicemail message and 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 out-of-hours urgent advice line.

Tel: 07852 220900 (evenings, weekend and bank holidays)

The line is managed by a senior staff nurse. The nurse will either offer advice, or consult with the haematology doctor on call.

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