Your nurse-led telephone clinic MGUS/multiple myeloma

This leaflet is for patients diagnosed with MGUS or multiple myeloma who are eligible for the nurse-led telephone clinic.

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 need to have your blood tests done seven to 10 days before your 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?

You have been invited because you are on a monitoring phase for your condition, or maintenance treatment. This has been designed to be more convenient for you, saving time and travel costs.

Is it safe?

The clinic will be staffed by experienced haematology nurses. 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 sent an appointment time for a Friday morning. We would like you to have your blood tests done seven to 10 days before this appointment. Your blood tests can be done at your GP surgery, at Newmarket Road Park and Ride, at your local hospital or in the Addenbrooke’s Oncology Centre blood room. At your scheduled appointment, 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. You will be informed when your next appointment will be, and whether it will be 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 the GP. Your blood forms for the next appointment will be posted to you with this letter.

Will I still be under the care of my consultant?

You will remain under the care of your consultant throughout. Most patients will come to the outpatient clinic once a year to be reviewed by a consultant or specialist registrar. 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?

The choice is entirely yours. You can return to follow up in the outpatient clinic at any time.

What information should I give the hospital?

We will need to know what telephone number to contact you on. It is very important that you are available at the dedicated time to answer the call from the clinical nurse specialist. 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?

If you have not received your scheduled phone call within 30 minutes of the time expected, please call 01223 216551. This is the Oncology Centre Reception who will be able to contact the team for you.

Contacts/further Information

If you wish to discuss your care please contact your clinical nurse specialist on 01223 596279 option 2.