You will be sent a letter inviting you to attend for an outpatient appointment with one of our doctors that specialises in the treatment of cancer. During this appointment it is likely that you will see other members of the team, all of whom are dedicated to trying to make your visit as pleasant and effective as possible.
Finding us
Oncology outpatients is on level 1 and Haematology outpatients is on level 3, both in St James’s Hospital Bexley Wing. When you are coming for treatment parking your car is free.
- There is a multi-storey car park next to the Bexley Wing
- On entering the car park take a ticket and park as usual (disabled parking spaces are on level 0)
- When exiting use the left hand lane next to the ticket office. Take your parking ticket and appointment card to the attendant. They will process your ticket so that when you insert it at the barrier no charge will be made.
There is a drop off zone available on the plaza in front of the main entrance in the event of an emergency, or you are unwell.
If you are unsure as to which area you need to be in, please ask at reception or one of the volunteers downstairs in the Bexley Wing Atrium. They will either direct or escort you.
Arrival
The Oncology Outpatient department is very large, so it has been split into four suites. Suites one and two share a reception and are at one end of the department and suites three and four share another reception at the other. Your appointment letter will tell you which suite you need to go to, but you can always ask a receptionist to help.
Haematology Outpatients is smaller and has a single reception desk.
Check-in
It is important that you check-in as this is the only way that we can record that you are here. You can do this using our self check-in terminals, which are situated at each end of the department. If you are uncomfortable with that, you are welcome to ask the receptionist who will check your details and book you into clinic.
Understanding what is being said
You may see many people during your appointment. You may not understand everything that is said or be able to take everything in at once. Feel free to ask questions to any of our staff or to ask them to repeat what they have said in another way. You can bring family members or friends to the consultations. If you need a translator or interpreter, or have hearing difficulties, then we can arrange for help. It would help us if you could let us know this in advance by contacting us using the number on your appointment letter.
Seeing the Nurse
Whilst you wait to see the doctor, a member of the nursing team will call you to have your height and weight measured, and will give you a brief explanation about what to expect during your visit. You may also be asked to provide a blood sample at this stage.
Seeing the Doctor
You will be seen by either a consultant or a specialist registrar. They will take a medical history, discuss your diagnosis and explain what treatment options are available. Sometimes, at your first appointment, a treatment plan will be made with you. We appreciate though that you may need time to think about your treatment options, so we recommend that you return to clinic in one or two weeks after you have had a good chance to consider them. You will be provided with written information about your treatment, including any associated side effects. If you decide to go ahead, the doctor will ask you to sign a consent form. It is very important for you and for us that you are fully informed about your treatment before you consent.
Participation in clinical trials
St James’s Hospital is a leader in the race to find new more effective cancer treatments and we always have trials of new medicines or combinations of medicines in progress. Sometimes these trials are very new but others are at the point of becoming the standard treatment. We will tell you if we are offering a treatment that is part of a trial and answer any questions that you may have about it.
Screening and information
After your treatment plan has been agreed by yourself and your doctor, the nursing staff in clinic will screen you for MRSA and ensure that you have had the relevant blood tests, or other tests such as a urine sample or a recording of your blood pressure. They will provide you with written information about your treatment, with contact telephone numbers, and you will be provided with a list of appointments. The first appointment will be in our pre-assessment department, which is also located on level 1 in Bexley Wing. These appointments will be sent to you in the post.
Free parking during your treatment
Once you begin your treatments, we recommend that you use the Bexley Wing multi-storey car park, because when you are on treatment here, you will be will entitled to free parking during the times that you are having treatment. Ask about this before you leave your outpatient appointment.
Transport
If you need transport to and from the hospital then this can be arranged by your GP to start with and then by us once you start coming for assessment and treatment. Before asking for transport please bear these points in mind:
- Hospital transport is a free service for those in need
- If you need it, we will make sure that you get it
- Car-parking is free for those receiving treatment
- You may be able to claim travel expenses for your journey if you use your own car, a taxi or bus fare
- You may be picked up or dropped off a long time before and after your appointment. We have no control over the ambulance service