Arrival
On arrival please visit the clinical haematology reception and let a member of the team know that you have arrived. Please tell us if you have changed your name, address, telephone numbers or GP. It is important that we keep our records up-to-date to enable us to contact you or your GP.
Please arrive on time for your appointment. If you are early, you will not usually be seen more quickly. However, if you are late, other patients who arrived on time may be seen before you.
Who will I see?
You will be seen by either a Consultant Haematologist, a Registrar or Clinical Nurse Specialist, or sometimes a combination of all three.
Medical Examination
The doctor will tell you if you need to have a medical examination during your appointment and you will be offered a chaperone to be present during the examination. Please also be aware that as East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust is a teaching hospital, trainee or student doctors and student nurses may be present during your consultation. Please tell the doctor reviewing you for your appointment if you do not wish to have a trainee, student doctor or student nurse present during the examination.
Investigations/Tests
Often additional investigations are required to help make a diagnosis or to simply monitor your health/progress. These may include blood tests, x-rays, scans, a bone marrow test and measurements of your height and weight.
What happens after my appointment
At the end of your visit you will be given a follow up appointment if required or discharged if appropriate and within the next couple of weeks you will receive a copy of your clinic letter, detailing your consultation.
What are these for:
- Blood tests – to check things such as how well your liver and kidneys are working, and how many blood cells you have
- X-rays and scans – to help with diagnostics or to assess how well your treatment is working
- Measurements of your height and weight – to help your team calculate your dose of treatment
- Bone Marrow Test – To check for cancer cells or to assess how well your treatment is working
Consenting to Treatment
If treatment is required we want to ensure that you fully understand your conditions and the treatment/care options available to you. Before you receive any treatment, your doctor will explain what they are recommending, including the benefits, risks and alternatives.
Please ask questions or raise any concerns you may have during your consultation if you are unsure about anything. You may want to write down any questions you have in advance and bring these with you to your appointment.
