This leaflet provides information on the Acute Oncology Service and how the team can support you.

What is the Acute Oncology Service?

This service has been developed to support patients with cancer who have an emergency. This may be as a complication from your cancer treatment, symptoms related to your cancer or because a scan suggests you may have a new cancer.

Role of the Acute Oncology Team

The Acute Oncology Team has good links with the wards and departments within the hospital as well as the Chemotherapy Day Unit and the Palliative Care Team. The Acute Oncology Team work closely with the doctors and nurses already caring for you to provide better access to information, specialist support and advice.

We help:
  • Ensure you are not kept in hospital longer than necessary.
  • Improve the quality of care during your stay in hospital.
  • Ensure you only have appropriate tests and investigations.
  • Provide advice and support for clinical staff looking after you.
  • Provide an emergency helpline service.
  • Provide advice on managing side effects e.g. sore mouth, infection, nausea and vomiting.
Sepsis

Sepsis is a whole body reaction triggered by an infection. Neutropenic Sepsis is a potentially fatal complication of anti-cancer treatment. If neutropenic sepsis is suspected, action should be taken immediately.

Signs and symptoms to consider:
  • Received chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in the last 6 weeks and/or have bone marrow disease
  • You have a temperature above  37.5°C or below 36.0°C
  • History of fever or hypothermia
  • Shaking/Chills
  • Feeling unwell
  • Severe tiredness, high heart rate,
  • Shortness of breath, low blood  pressure.

If you experience any of the above please contact the emergency helpline number below immediately.

How to contact the Acute Oncology Team

The team is available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (except bank holidays)

Contact us by telephone: 07813394635

Out of hours this number will divert to CHOC – Cumbria Health on Call. You can also contact your GP for advice and assessment.

Useful Information

Macmillan Cancer support Macmillan.org.uk Tel: 0808 808 0000

Cancer Research Cancer research Tel: 0300 123 1022

Confidentiality

‘The Trust’s vision is to keep your information safe in our hands.’ We promise to use your information fairly and legally, and in-line with local and national policies. You have a right to understand how your information is used and you can request a copy of the information we hold about you at any time.

For further information on confidentiality contact the Information Governance Team:

Information.Governance@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 603961

Feedback

We appreciate and encourage feedback, which helps us to improve our services. If you have any comments, compliments or concerns to make about your care, please contact the Patient, Advice & Liaison Service:

pals@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 814008 or 01946 523818

If you would like to raise a complaint regarding your care, please contact the Complaints Department:

complaints@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 936302