Oncology Outpatients

St Luke’s Outpatients

Most outpatient appointments will take place over the telephone or via a video call.

If you have a planned appointment and have not heard from us to change your appointment, please contact us using the contact details on your appointment letter. Please do not come in unless we ask you to.

If you are due to come in for an appointment that we have confirmed is still happening and you or anyone in your household has suspected Coronavirus symptoms, please contact us using the contact details on your appointment letter. We will inform your consultant and let you know what to do next.

Radiotherapy

There is no longer a requirement to wear a face mask, but you may do so if you wish.

If you are experiencing any Covid 19 symptoms, please contact the department as soon as possible before your appointment.  

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy continues to be delivered on Chilworth day unit. If you have any symptoms of Coronavirus please do not attend. To maintain some distance between people we have reduced the number of our treatment chairs and extended our opening hours, to ensure we can treat everyone without having too many people in at any one time.

Please come at the time of your appointment and not too early, to minimise your length of time on the unit. Your temperature will be taken on arrival.

Unfortunately at this time, we cannot allow any visitors or family to attend with you. If someone has travelled with you to hospital, please can we ask that they remain in their car. If you or anyone in your household has suspected Coronavirus symptoms, please contact us using the contact details on your appointment letter. We will inform your consultant and let you know what to do next.

Nuclear Medicine

All oncology diagnostic procedures will continue as normal throughout the pandemic. Some non-oncology routine scans will be postponed until further notice. Urgent molecular radiotherapy will continue. We will be telephoning all patients 24 - 48 hours before the appointment to confirm that they still wish to attend and to confirm that they have no Coronavirus symptoms at this point in time. We ask that patients attend the department no more than five minutes before their appointment and only bring someone with them if absolutely necessary, ie a carer. We also request that patients do not remain in the department between their radiopharmaceutical injection and scan and recommend that they return to their car, wherever possible, during this period. If patients are unable to do this, then they may remain in the department. 

All chairs in the waiting area are separated by a 2 metre space and we ask patients not to move these.

If you experience Coronavirus symptoms on the day of your planned procedure, please do not come in for your appointment, instead, telephone the department and we will inform your consultant and tell you what to do next.

Onslow ward

Onslow ward is currently looking after patients with cancer and patients who have had or are due to have surgery.

During this time, we would like it if you had a named contact that the ward can communicate and update you of how your relative is doing, please provide us with one contact number.

Oncology Outpatients is a dedicated area where the oncology team see patients to plan, monitor and review high quality care, treatment and support. Patients are referred to the oncology department following a diagnosis of cancer.  

Services provided: 

• Consultant led outpatient clinics
• Nurse led outpatient clinics
• Pharmacy
• Phlebotomy (blood sampling)
• Research
• Nutrition and Dietetics

Location: 

The oncology department is located in Outpatients 12, Level B. 

Our outpatient clinics are held daily, usually between 9am and 5pm.

Your appointment letter will confirm the location of your appointment.

Most of our appointments are held at the Royal Surrey County Hospital, in Outpatients 12. Information about how to get to the hospital, including information about parking, can be found by our website. Please check in for your appointment in Outpatients 12.

It is useful to have a family member or a friend to accompany you as there will be a considerable amount of information to take on board.

When the doctor is ready to see you, one of our clinic nurses will come and collect you from one of the waiting areas. We will introduce ourselves to you, and give you the opportunity to ask questions. It is important that you ask your doctor about any aspect of your care if you are unclear – all of our Consultants will be happy to address any of your concerns. The nurse or healthcare assistant may need to perform some checks before the doctor sees you to ensure that they are as informed as possible about your condition.

What happens after your consultation will depend on your personal management plan that your doctor will put together with you towards the end of your appointment. Generally, any of the following is likely to happen:

• You may be asked to book another appointment. If this is the case, our reception staff will agree a future clinic date with you and provide you with an appointment card.
• Your treatment may be started. The date and location of your next attendance will vary depending on your individual management plan. However, the doctor will explain the details to you clearly and you will be asked to sign a consent form to confirm that they have done this.
• Your doctor will write to your GP, recounting the discussions you have had and the decisions made during your appointment. If you do not want your GP to receive a clinic letter, please advise your doctor accordingly.

If there is a problem with your appointment or you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

St Luke’s Cancer Centre

The Royal Surrey County Hospital

Egerton Road

Guildford

GU2 7XX

 

Telephone number: 01483 571 122

You can ask to be put through to the oncology appointments team, your Clinical Nurse Specialist or your consultant’s secretary.

You may be contacted via text message to complete our friends and family test. 

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