Nurse-led Telephone Clinic for Bone Marrow Failure Patients

What is the nurse-led telephone clinic?

We are inviting some haematology patients to be reviewed by telephone for some of their consultations, in place of attending the clinic in oncology outpatients. If you join this clinic, you will be telephoned by a clinical nurse specialist at a dedicated time slot on a certain day.

You will have your blood tests done a few days before the appointment and will then discuss the results, together with your current symptoms and treatment, with the nurse during the telephone clinic appointment.

It is important that you speak freely and openly about any symptoms or concerns that you have.

Why am I being invited?

Stable patients requiring regular monitoring diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), neutropenia, aplastic anaemia (AA) or Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) are currently being invited to join the nurse-led telephone clinic.

Is it safe?

The clinic will be staffed by experienced haematology clinical nurse specialists. The nurses work closely with the medical team who oversee your care and will discuss any questions or concerns with them.

How will the telephone clinic system work?

You will be given an appointment time. We would like you to have your blood tests done a few days before your appointment.

Your blood tests can be done at your GP surgery, your local hospital, or in the CUH oncology outpatients blood room or Newmarket Road Park and Ride Blood service CB5 8AA.

At your scheduled appointment time, the clinical nurse specialist will telephone you and discuss your current symptoms, any recent medical problems, your current medications, any side-effects, and your blood results. They will then inform you whether to continue taking your current treatment (if you are taking any), whether to change the dose of treatment.

You will be informed when your next appointment will be, and whether it will be in the telephone clinic or the outpatient department.

How will I receive my blood forms?

After each telephone clinic consultation, you will receive a copy of the letter that the clinical nurse specialist sends to your GP.

Your blood forms for the next appointment will be posted to you.

Will I still be under the care of my consultant?

You will remain under the care of your consultant throughout. Most patients will be reviewed by a consultant or specialist registrar once a year by telephone or face to face as required. If you need to see the medical team at any other time, we will arrange for you to come to the outpatient clinic.

What if I wish to leave the telephone clinic?

You can return to follow-up in the outpatient clinic at any time if you prefer.

What information should I give the hospital?

We will need to know what telephone number to contact you on. It would also be helpful to know if you will have your blood tests taken at a different hospital, or if your GP surgery will send your blood tests to a different hospital.

If you would like additional information about measures to confirm your identity and confidentiality during telephone calls, please ask your clinical nurse specialist.

What if no-one rings me?

We endeavour to contact you at your allocated appointment time. As we wish to address all your questions and concerns, this inevitably means that sometimes we may need to spend more time than allocated, particularly if you have complex issues to discuss.

We would, therefore, ask for your understanding if we call you later than your allocated appointment time. We aim to give every person the time they need to ensure their needs are met and their condition is safely managed without the need to visit the hospital for the appointment.

Special Instructions for neutropenic patients (low neutrophils) or patients with thrombocytopenia (low platelets).

Please contact the 24-hour Haematology / Oncology helpline on 01223 274225

• If you develop a fever over 38 degrees Celsius
• If you develop flu-like or shivery symptoms
• If you develop a new rash
• Or if you generally feel unwell
• If you develop bleeding
• If you develop unexplained new bruising
• If you experience worsening breathlessness

Contacts/Further information

Oncology Centre Reception: 01223 216551

Haematology 24-hour Emergency Line: 01223 274225

BMF Clinical Nurse Specialist: 01223 596279 option 4