Oncology Day Care Unit and Outpatient Clinics
Our Oncology Day Care Unit and Clinics are based on the ground floor of
the Oncology Unit.
Day Care Unit
Day Care is the area on the Oncology Unit where we give any treatment that does not require an overnight stay. This includes:
Emergency (unplanned) reviews.
Day case chemotherapy.
Blood and platelet transfusions.
Theatre recovery.
Kidney tests etc.
Removal of sutures.
Vincristine injections.
Central line dressings.
Along with a small number of beds, Day Care also has chairs for children who do not need a bed, such as those who are having a kidney test or blood transfusion. Day case treatment for teenagers is given upstairs in the Teenage Cancer Unit.
Chemotherapy in Day Care
Treatment in Day Care is given according to timed appointments and you will be given a time to arrive. Please make sure you arrive on time as lateness will affect the running of chemotherapy in Day Care.
Please ring Day Care directly on 0151 293 3684 if you feel you will be late for your appointment.
Children having chemotherapy must have blood tests 48 hours before admission. Children having a blood test (finger pricks) at Alder Hey must go to the Pathology Lab. on the ground floor of the main hospital. Blood tests at the Shared Care Centre are arranged in agreement with your Consultant. Please check with a member of our team if you are unsure if bloods are needed.
Blood tests needed before chemotherapy are:
Full Blood Count.
Oncology Profile (U & E, LFTs)
These results will then be phoned through to the Unit, allowing our Pharmacist to prepare the chemotherapy in time for your appointment. Any medicines or equipment needed will be given on discharge. Before leaving Day Care, please check that you have everything you need, including the blood form (for next count) and date of next appointment (for Day Care, Clinic or Inpatients).
Out of Hours Access
If you need to come to the Oncology Unit after 5pm, at weekends or on Bank Holidays, please telephone 0151 252 5212 before leaving home as the entrance will be locked. We will then advise on how to access the Unit safely.
Transport
Our Receptionist can arrange transport for patients for medical reasons. Please remember that we do need 24 hours notice to arrange transport (48 hours if you are travelling from Wales). If you need help with travel expenses, please ask the nursing staff for details. If you require transport please tell our Receptionist who will arrange this for you.
Sharps Bins
Sharps bins must be locked when bringing them back to Clinic, Day Care or the Shared Care Centre. If you are not sure how to do this, please ask a member of staff for assistance.
Outpatient (Clinic) Details
Outpatient Appointments
Please report to our Receptionist when arriving for an appointment. All patients going to theatre on Wednesday or Thursday should be booked in at Reception at 9am. Patients who are going to theatre will be seen first. Occasionally due to unforeseen circumstances, clinics will sometimes run late. We will try our best to keep our patients and families informed if there are delays. Patients attending the Monday Bone Marrow Transplant Clinics should report to Reception before having any bloods taken. The doctor or nurse will advise on what bloods, if any, are needed.
Clinic Details
Alternate Monday Mornings
Dr Caswell/Dr Keenan/Dr Cambell/Specialist Registrar in
Haematology/Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Nurse
This clinic is for patients who have had or who are going to have a Bone Marrow Transplant.
Clinic Time: 10am -12.30pm
Monday Afternoon
Dr Pizer/Dr Howell
This clinic is for patients who have undergone or who are having treatment for a solid tumour. It may be necessary to have an X-ray or scan. If this is the case, patients should attend the Radiography Department prior to coming to the Oncology Unit.
Clinic Time: 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Tuesday Morning
Dr McDowell
This clinic is for patients who have undergone or are still having treatment for a solid tumour. Any patients who require an X-ray should attend the Radiography Department before coming to the Unit.
Clinic Time: 9am -12pm
Tuesday Morning
Consultants/Associate Specialists/ Advanced Nurse Practitioners/Specialist Registrar in Oncology
This Leukaemia Clinic sees patients who are having or have finished treatment. There is no theatre schedule for this day.
Clinic Time: 9am -12pm
Tuesday Afternoon
Dr McDowell/Dr Pizer/Dr Howell
This clinic is for patients with brain tumours. Patients should attend any booked scans before coming to the Oncology Unit. The Neuro (Brain) Surgeon, Radiotherapist and a Macmillan Nurse will also be in this clinic.
Clinic Time: 1.30pm - 4.30pm
Tuesday afternoon
Dr Didi/Dr Das/Dr Blair
This clinic is for patients needing endocrine (hormone treatment) follow-up.
Clinic Time: 2pm 4.30pm
Wednesday and Thursday Morning
Consultants/Associate Specialists/Advanced Nurse Practitioners/Specialist Registrar in Oncology
These are Leukaemia Clinics which are usually very busy so please arrive promptly for your appointment. Patients who need to go to theatre for a Lumbar Puncture (LP) or a bone marrow transplant will be seen on these days. Patients going to theatre must have nothing to eat or drink beforehand (nil by mouth). Please see theatre guidelines on page 48 for further details on what time
food and drink is allowed before theatre.
Clinic Time: 9am-12pm
Friday No Clinics
If you are unable to keep an appointment, please contact clinic as soon as possible on 0151 252 5804.
