Welcome. to The Christie. A guide for patients and carers

Transcription

1 Welcome to The Christie A guide for patients and carers

2 Welcome to The Christie We want you to be as comfortable as possible while you are being treated at The Christie. This booklet sets out to tell you in general what to expect. It cannot cover everything you may want to know, so if there is anything that worries you, please ask. The doctors, nurses, radiographers and receptionists will be glad to help. You may be interested in reading the whole booklet, or you can just read the sections that apply to you. How to get here Information for outpatients Information for inpatients Information for all patients

3 The Christie is one of Europe s leading cancer centres Established in 1901, The Christie is one of Europe s leading cancer centres offering: high quality diagnosis, treatment and care world class research education. We treat 40,000 patients a year and our treatment and care has been ranked the best in the country. As part of the NHS we provide: radiotherapy chemotherapy highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are a national cancer specialist based in Manchester with radiotherapy centres in Oldham and Salford. We serve a population of 3.2 million people across Greater Manchester and Cheshire while 26% of our patients are referred to us from across the UK. With 2,500 staff, 350 volunteers and 26,000 public members, we were the first UK centre to be officially accredited as a comprehensive cancer centre. Our clinical trials unit is the largest early phase unit in the world. We run the country s second largest hospital charity in terms of fundraising, and, as a foundation trust we have more freedom to develop our services for the benefit of patients. Anyone interested in becoming a member should visit or call our page 1

4 Contents How to get here page 4-9 By car By ambulance Map of the local area and car parks Main routes to The Christie By motorway By bus By Metrolink By rail Help with travel expenses Information for outpatients When you arrive What to bring with you Waiting to be seen If you are given a prescription For people having radiotherapy For people having chemotherapy page For people having day case surgery Drinks and snacks page 2

5 Information for inpatients Transfer suite What to bring with you Medication What not to bring with you Accommodation at The Christie State benefits Services for patients page Things to do Local amenities Visiting Accommodation for relatives Information for all patients Caring for our patients Staff at The Christie Patient support services Rehabilitation unit Voluntary services Infection prevention and control Smoking cessation & alcohol advice Private patient clinic Young oncology unit page Research at The Christie About your illness and treatment Volunteers Refreshments Patient advice and liaison service Giving your views and getting involved Formal complaints Cancer information centre Donations page 3

6 How to get here Over the next few pages, you will find maps, directions and details of bus services to The Christie Painting of a tulip by a patient at The Christie page 4

7 By car Car parking is limited and, wherever possible, we would encourage you to travel on public transport, although we recognise that this is not always possible. If you do come by car, please leave yourself time in case you need to find a parking space. To prevent risk of theft, please do not leave valuables in view in your car. Unfortunately, there is not enough space to leave cars throughout an inpatient stay. By ambulance An ambulance can be ordered for patients who need transport for medical needs. There is an eligibility criteria assessment. If this is your first visit to The Christie, please contact your GP for advice about arranging transport. The transport department at The Christie will be able to advise you about transport for subsequent visits ( or ). There is information with maps showing location of car parks and a site plan in the leaflet Travelling and car parking for patients and patient s visitors to The Christie. This is also available on The Christie website. page 5

8 Map of local area Manchester City Centre B.R. Station Mauldeth Rd Metrolink Station West Didsbury 10min walk Local Train Station via bus to Christie Bus Stops B.R. Station Burnage B.R. Station East Didsbury page 6

9 Main routes to The Christie Preston Preston Liverpool Chester M6 M62 M61 Birmingham M56 Bury M60 M66 M62 Leeds Manchester The Christie at Salford The Christie M60 at Withington M60 The Christie at Oldham Oldham M67 Stockport By motorway from Stockport and the East Take the M60 ring road clockwise and leave at Junction 5. Turn right at major traffic lights onto Barlow Moor Road A5145 (towards Didsbury). Turn left at next traffic lights onto Palatine Road B5167. Go through one set of major traffic lights. The Christie is shortly after these. By motorway from the North Take the M60 ring road anti-clockwise and follow signs for Manchester Airport. Move to left lane and exit M60, Junction 5. Follow sign for Chester, Manchester Airport (M56), Birmingham, A5103. Stay in left lane and take first exit from A5103 signed Northenden and Sale Moor. At the end of the slip road, turn left at the traffic lights at the Britannia Airport Hotel onto Palatine Road, B5166 which becomes B5167. From A see page 8. page 7

10 By motorway from the South Take the M56 following the signs to Manchester and then City Centre. Look out for a sign that says motorway ends in half a mile. Shortly after this, move to left lane and take the slip road to Sale Moor and Northenden, signed B5166. Keep in right hand lane of slip road. At the traffic lights, turn sharp right under the bridge, passing the Britannia Airport Hotel on your left. From A See below. From the A Pass through Northenden shopping area. Keep straight on past the shops, over the River Mersey and past the golf club. Go through two major sets of traffic lights. Shortly after the second set, you will see a sign for The Christie. By bus Bus services to Wilmslow Road from: Manchester Piccadilly 42,42A,142,157,X57 Cheadle 157,X57 East Didsbury 42,142,157,X57 Reddish 42A,84 Stockport 42 Levenshulme 169* Bus services to Palatine Road from: Manchester Piccadilly 41,43,48,143 Altrincham/Sale 41,370* Reddish/Timperley 178 (*this bus does not pass The Christie directly) Traveline and timetable: Journey planning on buses, trains and trams or The Christie website has more information and maps By Metrolink The tram stop at West Didsbury is a 10-minute walk from the Christie. This is on the purple line (East Didsbury Rochdale). page 8

11 By rail Most main line trains arrive at Manchester Piccadilly station and some of these also stop at Oxford Road station. You can take a bus from Piccadilly Gardens (any of the services listed leaving Manchester Piccadilly). Some trains arrive at Manchester Victoria where you can get the Metrolink directly to West Didsbury. Help with travel expenses You may get a refund of travel costs, public transport or mileage and car parking if you receive any of the state benefits which are paid because you do not have enough money to live on. Please bring proof of eligibility with you when you attend The Christie. If you are claiming for car parking, pay the exit fee and keep the tickets as proof of payment. Take these to the cashier s office when you visit the hospital. It is on the ground floor, off the main corridor, just inside the swing doors signed Dept 16/17. Opening hours are 9.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm. You can claim three months arrears of travel costs. If you are not automatically entitled to a refund, but have difficulty in meeting the cost of transport, you may be entitled to an exemption certificate on the grounds of low income. Contact the benefits and advice office on or 8539 for advice and possible help or (Help with health costs info line). page 9

12 Information for outpatients If you have any queries at all about your appointment date, or if you need to change it, please telephone the number on your appointment letter. Bluebell forest by a patient at The Christie page 10

13 When you arrive Go straight to the reception desk in outpatients. The receptionists will check your details on arrival and direct you to the appropriate waiting area. Some patients will be asked to have a blood test. If this is your first visit to The Christie, you will be seen in the clinic by the doctor or nurse clinician, and any treatment will be discussed with you. This can take some time. A relative or friend can accompany you to see the doctor or nurse clinician. Please feel free to take them in with you. Some patients have treatment on their first visit. Others are given a further appointment to come in for treatment. You may have some tests or investigations on your first visit, so be prepared to be here for a few hours. If you do have tests, the results will be discussed with you at an outpatient visit. Secretaries cannot give results to you over the phone, unless the doctor has given permission. What to bring with you It is helpful to have the following when you arrive: Name, address and post code of the GP you are registered with (or the name of the senior doctor in the practice) Your own post code Any tablets or medicines you are taking. Keep these in the container you got from the chemist, so we know what you have been taking. If you have a list of repeat prescriptions from your GP, please bring this with you. page 11

14 Waiting to be seen by the doctor or nurse clinician We try to ensure that you are seen at your appointment time. The time you spend with the doctor or nurse clinician will vary according to your needs. There can be delays but staff will keep you informed of the clinic s progress. You will not be booked in until one hour before your appointment time. If you are given a prescription If the doctor or nurse clinician gives you a prescription for any medicine to take home, you need to take this to The Christie pharmacy. The main pharmacy is run in partnership with Boots. You cannot take it to a chemist or any other hospital pharmacy to be dispensed. Before you leave the pharmacy, please make sure you know when and how to take your medication. The directions will be printed on the label, but if you have any questions or the instructions are unclear, the pharmacy staff will be pleased to explain everything to you. Prescriptions for NHS patients are free from The Christie pharmacy. Prescriptions are also free for NHS patients being treated for cancer from community pharmacies but you will need an exemption certificate. Application forms are available from your GP or the benefits advisers at The Christie. For people having radiotherapy There are three radiotherapy centres: a large centre at the main Christie site in Withington and two smaller ones in The Christie at Oldham and The Christie at Salford Royal. Your first appointment will be for treatment planning which might also include a consultation so allow a couple of hours. You will be given your first treatment appointment at the planning session as most patients do not start radiotherapy on the same day. It can take an average of two weeks before your treatment plan is ready. The Christie booklets on radiotherapy explain more about this. Treatments are normally given Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm and on some occasions, 7pm. It may not always be possible to meet your preference for the first few treatments. If you have any queries about your appointment or treatment, telephone the number on your radiotherapy appointment letter. Many people ask Can I drive myself when I come for radiotherapy? The answer is yes, unless the doctor advises you not to. The waiting areas in the page 12

15 radiotherapy department are quite small. Try not to bring more than one person with you. For people having chemotherapy You may have treatment on your first visit to The Christie or you may be asked to start your treatment the following week. You can eat and drink as normal before your appointment. Many patients now have two day treatments: On the first day, book in at the reception desk in the Oak Road Patient Treatment Centre. Let the staff know if you have come by ambulance transport. Next you will probably have a blood test. You will then see the doctor or nurse clinician. On the second day, book in at reception for treatment in the Oak Road Patient Treatment Centre. Children under 12 are not allowed in the treatment areas. Your chemotherapy may be the type that can be made in advance or it may have to be made on the day of your visit. If it is made on the day, please be prepared to wait. The Christie booklet on chemotherapy explains the process in more detail. Chemotherapy can be given as a short injection, via a pump or as an infusion (drip) over several hours. A team of chemotherapy nurses will give you your chemotherapy, and explain the treatment and possible side effects. They will assess your needs on each visit. They will also give you information about your chemotherapy and a contact number. Don t hesitate to ask any questions about treatment and side effects. If you need to see a district nurse, social worker, counsellor or dietitian, the chemotherapy nurses can make a referral. When you ve finished your treatment, you will be able to go straight home. If you come by ambulance let the staff know you are ready to go, and make sure your transport is booked for your next visit. Before you leave, please make sure you have your next appointment and have collected your tablets from the pharmacy. If you are having chemotherapy and feel unwell, contact The Christie Hotline: page 13

16 For people having day case surgery Unless your surgery has been arranged at short notice, you will receive a letter from The Christie explaining our procedure including dates and times. If you are having a local anaesthetic, you will be able to eat and drink normally. If you are having a general anaesthetic, and your operation is in the morning, do not eat or drink (except water) from midnight the night before. You may drink water until 6.00am. If your operation is in the afternoon have a light breakfast at 6.00am. You may drink water until 10.00am. You may brush your teeth and you should take any regular prescribed medication. Diabetics should check this with their consultant. Bring an overnight bag just in case you have to stay in overnight and any regular medication you are taking. You will be admitted to the ward by the nursing staff, and visited by the surgeon and anaesthetist before your surgery. The ward nurse and a theatre porter will take you to the operating theatre, where you will be met by the theatre staff. After surgery you will return to the ward. Please ensure that someone can collect you from The Christie. Driving for the first 24 hours after a general anaesthetic is not medically recommended. You will also need an adult to keep an eye on you overnight when you return home after a general anaesthetic or sedation. It would be helpful if all patients could bring their own dressing gown and slippers to wear but these can be provided if necessary. Drinks and snacks The tea bar in outpatients sells snacks and drinks. It is staffed by volunteers and is open from Monday to Thursday from 9.30am to 5.00pm and Fridays from 9.30am to 3.30pm. There is also a coffee shop in the Oak Road entrance and the dining room serves meals and drinks. page 14

17 Information for inpatients If you have any queries about your admission, please phone the admissions department on Please check in at the transfer suite located near outpatients. If you have a letter with your date of admission, it is helpful to bring it with you. Seascape by a patient at The Christie page 15

18 Transfer suite After booking in at the transfer suite, we will ask some patients to have a blood test. You may have to wait for a bed on the ward to become available. How quickly this happens depends on the type of treatment you are having, and when there is a place on an appropriate ward for you. We will do our best to keep you informed if there is likely to be a long wait. If you are still waiting for a bed by lunchtime, lunch will be provided. What to bring with you You will need the following: dressing gown, well-fitting flat slippers and a bed jacket or cardigan toothpaste and toothbrush or denture cleaner and containers hair brush and comb sponge or face flannel soap and towels (non-scented soap is best for people having radiotherapy) tissues razor / electric razor nightclothes: pyjamas or nightdresses a small case or bag for your clothes small change for phone calls some clothes to wear during the day. If you are well enough, you may be up and about, and you can usually remain dressed. You may also be able to go out of the hospital. Please only bring the minimum as the lockers are small. Medication Please bring any tablets or medicines you are currently taking including any that you have bought from the chemist. Keep them in the container they came in so they can be identified. You will be able to take your own tablets or medicines as usual while you are in an inpatient. When you are ready for discharge, The Christie pharmacy will ensure that you have at least one week s supply of medication to take home. page 16

19 What not to bring with you Don t bring large sums of money or valuables with you. If you do, tell the nurse in charge. Large amounts of money can be banked for safekeeping, and a limited amount of cash returned to you when you go home. The remainder can then be sent to you as a cheque soon afterwards. The Christie cannot accept responsibility for the safety of personal belongings which are not handed in for safekeeping so do not leave money or valuables lying about when you leave the ward. Accommodation at The Christie Our wards are arranged in bays of four or five beds. The male and female beds within the wards are kept separate, in bays or as an annexe. Male and female toilets and bathrooms are located within or close to the bay or annexe. Moving and handling We aim to reduce the risk of injury to patients and staff so, if you are unable to move yourself independently, we may need to use handling aids to assist you. State benefits Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance and Care Allowance and the new Personal Independence Payment are reduced after a certain period in hospital. This can have a knock-on effect on other benefits. Some benefits are not affected. Contact your local Department of Works and Pensions or Job Centre Plus for details about how this affects any of your benefits. If you need a sick note while you are in The Christie, ask the ward administrator for one. If you have any queries about your benefits, financial or work situation while at The Christie, contact the benefits and advice service. Services for patients Special diets Please tell your nurse on admission if you have any special dietary needs (diabetic, gluten free, dairy free or liquidised). The nurse will inform the catering department about this. If you are on a gluten-free diet, gluten-free bread and biscuits can be sent to your ward. If you are on a dairy-free diet, soya milk is available. Kosher meals and halal meals are available page 17

20 on request. The menu folder at your bedside has more information. Letters and e-greetings Please ask for letters to be addressed to: Your full name, Ward number, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Wilmslow Road, Withington, Manchester M20 4BX You can give letters to the ward administrator who will arrange for them to be posted. There is also a post box in the Oak Road reception, and stamps are sold in the gift shop. If you would like to send an electronic greeting to a relative or friend being treated as an inpatient, you can do this via Newspaper and books A voluntary trolley from the gift shop comes round to the wards with newspapers and magazines as well as confectionery, drinks and some toiletries. Telephone calls If your relatives and friends want to phone to ask how you are, they can ring your ward directly or they can ring patient enquiries Mobile phones Mobile phones can be used in certain areas, such as dayrooms. To respect patient confidentiality, camera phones must not be used to take images at The Christie unless permission has been obtained. Hospedia Most beds at The Christie have a combined telephone television and radio system. There is a charge for the television and phone, but the radio is free. Local calls are free. Incoming calls are more expensive than outgoing calls. More information about how to use the system is available on the wards. Gift shop The Christie has its own gift shop in Oak Road reception. Gift items, toiletries, writing paper and cards as well as newspapers and magazines are on sale. A selection of head scarves and turbans is available. page 18

21 Things to do Because your treatment takes up only part of the day, you are likely to have spare time. You may like to bring a supply of books, crosswords, MP3 players and so on. Activities such as art classes are organised at the hospital. The classes are free and all materials are provided. There is a pleasant conservatory leading to the garden just off the glass corridor. You can use it at any time, and you are welcome to take your visitors there as well. Local amenities You may like to go out after you have had your treatment always check with the ward sister first. You can walk to Withington or take a short bus or car ride to Didsbury. Both places have branches of the main banks and building societies as well as shops, café bars, restaurants and pubs. The Red Lion on Wilmslow Road serves food at lunchtime. There are two parks: nearby Fog Lane park is just off Wilmslow Road, and is a 10 minute walk. Fletcher Moss Park with its botanical gardens is on the other side of Didsbury, so you need to take a short bus, taxi or car ride. A mini guide to Manchester, a Christie leaflet, will tell you more about what s on, local services and places of interest to visit. page 19

22 Visiting We prefer visitors to come between 2pm and 9pm as this gives us time in the morning to clean the ward and care for the patients. If you can only visit in the morning, please telephone the ward first, as it is a busy time. Patients may be called for treatment during a visit, so please understand if you have to wait to see your relative or friend. When you are visiting the wards, please respect the privacy and need for rest of other patients. For this reason, we also ask that there are no more than two visitors by the bedside at any one time. We have protected mealtimes to give patients the opportunity to eat without interruption so visitors are not allowed to stay on the wards at these times unless they are helping the patient to eat. During lunch and supper all non-urgent clinical activity stops so that the nurses, catering staff and carers can help to serve meals and assist patients who need help. and small children into the wards if possible. Please ensure that children are supervised at all times. If you have a cold or you are unwell, it s wise to put off the visit. Accommodation for relatives We have some single accommodation located near The Christie for close relatives of seriously ill patients who have to travel a distance, or who have transport problems. For more details, please ring and ask for the accommodation supervisor. We also have a list of nearby B&Bs and hotels. Please ask staff for a copy or look on The Christie website. On some wards, there may be restrictions due to health and safety interests, so check with the nurse in charge before entering. If children wish to visit, tell the nurse in charge before visiting. Avoid bringing babies page 20

23 Information for all patients The following pages have general information for all patients about the staff you may meet here, and an outline of all the other services provided by The Christie. Cherry blossom by a patient at The Christie page 21

24 Caring for our patients How we provide services and look after you Many of our patients come from quite far away. Most patients will have other doctors who are also involved in their care as well as doctors at The Christie, for example their GP and local hospital consultant. We work closely with these medical teams and hospitals. This may mean that your cancer treatment can be given more conveniently for you at your local hospital or primary care centre. Providing more Christie treatment closer to home In addition to giving treatment and care on our main site in Withington, we are providing more outpatient treatments closer to patients homes. Christie doctors are already giving more chemotherapy treatments in local hospitals and primary care centres, and we also have two centres for radiotherapy in Oldham and Salford. This means that many patients can get cancer treatment much closer to home. What happens if you become unwell when you are at home We provide a 24 hour telephone service for patients on cancer treatments. This is called the Hotline, which you can call on You will be told how to use the Hotline if you become unwell while you are on chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or if the problem relates directly to your cancer. The Hotline staff will advise you on what to do next. Sometimes this will be to see your GP or to go to your nearest hospital. If you are asked to come to The Christie for assessment, it may not involve admission. You can also contact your consultant s secretary or the nurse specialist who works with the team. Otherwise you should see your GP as normal. What happens if you become unwell when you are at The Christie as an outpatient If you are seen in a clinic as an outpatient and are unwell because of your treatment then a decision will be made whether to admit you, whether it would be better for you to be cared for at home, or whether it would be better for you to be seen by a different page 22

25 expert in a different hospital. For example, if you were unwell because of a heart problem it would be important to be seen by a cardiologist. Or if you had bone cancer and had fractured your hip you would need an orthopaedic service. In such cases, we would arrange a transfer. Staff at The Christie Doctors You may have already met a consultant from The Christie at another hospital. When you arrive, you may be treated by a different consultant who specialises in your type of cancer. They will discuss your treatment with you before any therapy is started. If you would like to know more, ask your consultant or any of their team. Nurses Please don t hesitate to ask the nurses if you have any queries. They will do their best to help or put you in touch with someone who can. There is an executive director of nursing and quality in charge, supported by divisional lead nurses, modern matrons and ward sisters. A team of nurses is based in outpatients. Each clinic is run by a named nurse. Please ask your named nurse, or one of their team, about any problems you may have, or information you would like. Radiotherapy radiographers The radiotherapy department is staffed by highly trained radiographers. They will be responsible for the accurate planning and delivery of your radiotherapy treatment and your general well-being. If you experience any problems during your treatment, please speak to the radiographers who will be pleased to help. Radiologists and diagnostic radiographers Diagnostic radiographers are highly trained to take x-ray images, CT and MRI scans. Radiologists are doctors who interpret and report the x-rays and scans. The images are used to assess your condition, to help plan treatment and monitor your progress. Pharmacists When you are given a prescription, take it to the pharmacy where you will meet the pharmacists and page 23

26 pharmacy technicians. Please ask if you are unsure about your medicines. If you have any further questions about medicines, please phone If you are staying on a ward, you will see the pharmacist or technician who visits the wards every weekday to check medicine charts. He or she will be happy to answer any questions you may have about your medicines. Ward administrators There is a ward administrator on every ward who is part of the ward team. Ward administrators can help you with any forms you need to fill in, such as sick notes. They can also take telephone messages and post letters for you, and will help you with any nonmedical queries. Student training The Christie trains postgraduate and undergraduate trainees so you may meet male and female students including doctors, nurses, radiographers and other therapists. By allowing them to take part in your care, you can make a valuable contribution to their training. Students are always supervised by fully qualified staff. However, you have the right to decide if students can take part in your care. If you prefer them not to, please tell the doctor, nurse, radiographer or other therapist in charge as soon as possible. You have a right to do this and your treatment will not be affected in any way. We also try to respect the concerns of patients in relation to the gender of their doctor and other health professionals. Patient support services Community link team The team is staffed by three qualified nurses and a senior clerical assistant with a wide experience of nursing needs and hospital treatments. We believe that all inpatients should have a smooth transfer of care from The Christie into the community or to an alternative care setting. We work alongside the community teams to ensure discharge is safe for you and your family/carers. page 24

27 If you have complex care issues that need to be addressed to facilitate a safe discharge/transfer, the ward teams will refer you to our service. The dietitians Keeping well nourished will help you cope with your treatment and illness. Depending on your type of treatment it may affect the amount you eat and drink. If you feel you need more help, we can advise you about your diet. You can find simple advice in our booklets: Eating: help yourself, Eating well for breast cancer, Advice about soft and liquidised foods, and Nutritional drinks. Ask the ward or clinic staff for a booklet. If you feel you need more help, ask your doctor to refer you to your ward dietitian or local dietitian. For general enquiries, you can contact us directly by phone on Specialist nurses The Christie has many specialist nurses. Some are clinical nurse specialists (CNS) who work with patients with specific cancers, providing them with information, support and specialist services. At present there are CNSs for the following groups of patients: anal brain and central nervous system breast colorectal endocrine (also see patients with benign tumours and hormonal disorders) gynaecology hepatobiliary head and neck and thyroid lung lymphoma myeloma neuroendocrine (NET) renal sarcoma upper gastro-intestinal urology. There are also nurse specialists who provide a specific service regardless of the type of cancer for patients, such as: chemotherapy clinical research nurses critical care page 25

28 nutritional support (for patients with naso-gastric or gastrostomy tubes) pain management (acute and chronic) palliative care plastic surgery procedures psychological support stoma care. In addition there are nurse practitioners who provide direct clinical support to patients out-of-hours, using advanced clinical knowledge and skills. Nurse clinicians are advanced nurse practitioners and experienced cancer nurses who work both independently and as part of the medical team. They assess and manage patients often instead of a doctor. They also offer you support and information throughout your treatment and follow-up care. At present there are nurse clinicians for patients with: breast, gynaecological, colorectal, upper gastrointestinal, head and neck, lymphoma, melanoma, haematology and bone marrow transplant and urology cancers. Nurse clinicians also do some of the preoperative assessment clinics and provide medical cover to some of the ward areas. There are nurse clinicians based at The Christie at Oldham and Salford who manage the care of patients having radiotherapy. Please ask the nurse in charge of your clinic or ward if you would like to know more, or if there is a specialist nurse who you would benefit from seeing. The pain service The pain service gives advice about acute and chronic pain management for cancer patients. The aim of the pain service is to provide a comprehensive cancer pain service by ensuring safe, effective and optimal pain relief with minimal side-effects. You can contact the team on Benefits advice service department The Christie advisers are experienced in helping people with the practical, financial problems caused by illness. If at any time your disease or treatment is causing you or your family additional stress or hardship, please call the advisers department. Ask the ward or clinic staff to contact us for you, or call in at their office (8) on the glass corridor or page 26

29 Social work The social work department can provide advice and support on what community services may be available to people. (Tel: ). The social worker s main role is to help organise care in the community on discharge from The Christie. They can also offer advice on: safeguarding of adults, deprivation of liberty (DOLS), best interest and housing concerns. Shaw Trust This free and independent service offers support and practical guidance on job-related concerns: help in your current job and help if you re looking for a job. Tel: or Psycho-oncology Patients and relatives may have difficulties coping with their illness and treatment, in the short or longer term, and may need psychological or psychiatric treatment or counselling to help with these problems. The psycho-oncology service specialises in emotional difficulties and mental health problems. The service is provided by consultants, a counsellor, psychotherapist and specialist nurses. Together, these specially trained staff help patients with anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties and other concerns related to cancer and its treatment in the short or longer term. The psycho-oncology team works closely with other staff offering specialist support and rehabilitation. Anyone who thinks they may benefit from these services should talk to one of the doctors or nurses looking after them, and if appropriate, ask to be referred. Patients or relatives can refer directly to the counselling service, phone Hospital chaplaincy and spiritual support Like many people who are ill, you may be trying to make some sense out of what is happening to you. You can talk to members of the chaplaincy team about your concerns whether or not you consider yourself religious. If you would like to speak to one of the team, ask a member of staff to contact them. Team members represent the major Christian denominations, the Jewish faith and Islam. Representatives of other faith communities can also be contacted during normal working hours. On the main first floor corridor there is a prayer room with prayer page 27

30 mats and ablution facilities (Department 56), and on the first floor education centre corridor there is a chapel (Department 55). These rooms are open 24 hours a day to provide a place where you can find privacy, peace and quiet. If you wish to make any specific requests for prayer, there is a prayer request board near the chapel. There are regular services in the chapel led by members of the chaplaincy team. Times of these services are advertised around the hospital, and everyone is welcome at any of them. If you need help to get to a service, ask a member of your clinic or ward staff to call the chaplains. Specialist palliative care support service This service is offered by a team of specialist nurses and doctors who have expertise in supporting patients and their carers. They provide high quality pain and symptom control and can also offer psychological and practical support at any stage of your illness. Please ask your doctor or nurse if you would like to be referred to the service. Rehabilitation The rehabilitation unit provides an integrated service, with many support services working together to provide practical and emotional support. Your needs will be assessed individually and you may then be seen by one or more staff. We may refer you on to services nearer your home although many of these services will be in the unit: occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, complementary therapies (including relaxation classes), smoking cessation, alcohol advice and lymphoedema therapy. Occupational therapy Occupational therapy can help you to maximise your abilities in everyday aspects of life, and maintain your quality of life. We can advise on techniques to reduce fatigue and increase independence, equipment and home alterations and individual programmes to enable you to improve your function in specific areas. Physiotherapy The physiotherapists are specialised in treating patients with physical difficulties occurring as a result of cancer or its treatment. If you have any problems with breathing, pain, lymphoedema, weakness or mobility page 28

31 problems (including walking aids) then please ask the ward or clinic staff to contact us, or ring the department on It is important to keep yourself fit and mobile after a cancer diagnosis and throughout treatment you can follow a simple exercise routine shown on Hospedia. An exercise booklet with a DVD is also available; please ask staff for details. Speech and language therapy The speech and language therapy team can assess, advise and treat you as an inpatient or outpatient for any swallowing, voice or communication difficulties arising during or following your cancer treatment. Ask the ward or outpatient staff to refer you using our fax referral form or clinic letter outlining the problem. Our contact is Voluntary services Headstart (coping with hair loss) Volunteers give demonstrations and advice on how to tie scarves, wear hats and turbans and create headwear for special occasions. Patients can be seen individually or in groups. A wide range of scarves, hats and turbans is on sale on the wards. Headstart is also available for outpatients by appointment, please phone Look good feel better This is a service run by volunteer beauticians from major cosmetic houses. They lead make-up workshops for patients every week. Each ward is visited on a rota; please ask on your ward for details. If you are an outpatient please phone to book an appointment. Manicure Volunteers visit the wards on a rota basis, offering a manicure service to patients. Infection prevention and control Having cancer and some of the treatments for cancer such as chemotherapy increases the risk of a patient developing an infection. The Christie is committed to reducing the risk of infection in our patients. We have a specialist infection prevention and control team who are responsible for monitoring, preventing and page 29

32 controlling infections through the education of all our staff and ensuring high standards of environmental cleanliness are maintained. If you have any concerns about the environment please speak to any member of staff looking after you. Organisms such as MRSA (Meticillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) and C.diff (Clostridium difficile) are national concerns. There are also some organisms that are resistant to many of the antibiotics we use, so it is important to take every precaution necessary to protect our patients. These organisms are not a risk to healthy people but can cause infection in those people with lowered immunity and resistance. If you do have MRSA or C.diff, you may be cared for in a single room away from other vulnerable patients. For further information please see the patient information leaflets. What we are doing to reduce infection We are part of the national Clean your Hands campaign. We ask patients and visitors to decontaminate their hands with soap and water or alcohol gel that is available in all clinical areas. We regularly monitor aspects of infection control including our cleaning services. What you can do to reduce infection Keep your own hands clean throughout the day, especially before meals and after visiting the toilet. Ask staff and visitors if they have washed their hands or used the alcohol hand rub before they provide you with any care. Avoid contact with your friends and family who have an infection such as diarrhoea and vomiting, chest infections or respiratory illnesses such as colds or flu. If you have any questions about infection control or would like more information, please contact: the infection control team via The Christie switchboard. page 30

33 Smoking cessation and alcohol advice Smoking cessation support is available to patients and their carers at our twice weekly clinics. Patients attending day care or inpatients can contact the smoking cessation and alcohol advice team directly by phoning or Private Patient Unit The Christie NHS Foundation Trust has a partnership arrangement with HCA International to provide private care facilities to patients at The Christie. The Christie Clinic offers inpatient, outpatient, surgical and day care treatment. Inpatients facilities include 28 private en-suite rooms and a 6-bedded Haematology Transplant Unit. The outpatient s centre has 10 private consulting rooms and a chemotherapy day unit. The consultants at The Christie Clinic are all highly specialised. The partnership benefits The Christie as it receives a share of any profits which is used to help maintain and improve standards throughout the hospital. If you have private medical insurance or would like to self fund your treatment please contact us at info.christieclinic@hcahealthcare.co.uk or on The Palatine treatment centre The centre has both inpatient and outpatient services for teenagers and young adults (TYA), including the YOU day unit, and provides age appropriate care for 16 to 24 year olds with cancer. The Palatine Ward is an integrated ward for TYA patients with cancer and adult haematology oncology patients, some requiring stem cell transplants. Research at The Christie Most of the diagnostic techniques and treatments available today have been developed through laboratory and clinical research. Much of this has been achieved through the support and participation of patients and their families. The Christie supports a wide range of research. You may wish to support us by: taking part in a clinical trial or clinical research, for instance, by allowing us to use your blood or other samples. You do not have to give a reason to refuse page 31

34 to take part and no one can be entered into a research project without his or her agreement making a donation to The Christie research funds, which are used to support staff, fund new equipment and build facilities such as the Clinical Trials Unit in Oak Road Patient Treatment Centre and the Wade radiotherapy research centre. Further information about clinical research is available from your clinical team, The Christie website www. christie.nhs.uk and from: Consumers for Ethics in Research, P.O. Box 1365, London N16 0BW. Information about your illness and treatment Ask your consultant at The Christie or one of his or her team if you have any queries. The Christie has a wide range of written information about treatments and other topics. These are available on leaflet racks and in the cancer information centres. If you would like a booklet about a particular type of cancer, you can get one from the cancer information centres on (Withington), (Oldham), (Salford) or by phoning Macmillan Cancer Support Freephone Agreeing to treatment and informed consent The doctors and nurses will discuss the treatment that is recommended for you and explain how it will affect you. It is important that you understand the meaning of any treatment, test or operation that you are having. They will then ask you to sign a consent form, once you have had all your queries and concerns about your treatment answered to your satisfaction. The Christie has a cardio-pulmonary resuscitation policy which staff are happy to discuss with you. There is also a leaflet about this. Copy letters to patients You can, if you wish, receive a copy of any letter written about you by a doctor, nurse or other health professional. If you would like to have a copy of any letters that are sent to your GP or another consultant, please tick the Yes box on your registration form. If you have not yet filled in this form, tell your doctor in the outpatient clinic. We will then arrange for a copy to be sent to you. We will tell the person the letter is page 32

35 written to that you have been sent a copy. If you have any questions or concerns about the information in the letter, you will be able to contact them to discuss it. The letter will usually be a summary of the information that the doctor has discussed with you during your appointment. You are entitled to have a copy if you would like one, but you do not have to receive one if you prefer not to. If you want to receive copies of letters, don t forget to ask the doctor each time you come to the outpatient clinic. Access to health records Patients have the right to have access to (and copies of) information that The Christie holds on them including their medical records. If you wish to apply for this formal access, application forms are available from: Health records manager, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Wilmslow Road, Withington, Manchester M20 4BX. Sign language If you understand sign language, we can put you in touch with a signer. Please ask your ward or clinic nurse for further details or phone Interpreters If English is not your first language and you would like someone to interpret for you, The Christie can arrange this. Please tick the box on the registration form or phone Support organisations CALL (Cancer Aid and Listening Line) Provides emotional support and practical help for people with cancer, their carers and their families. Support includes respite sitting, support for hospital appointments, social activities, befriending and support for carers. We also run a listening line in office hours (9am to 4pm Monday to Friday). Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays (including Christmas and New Year) from 7.30pm to 10.30pm. Tel: www. canceraid.co.uk There are many other local groups you can get information on these local groups from the ward staff, social work department, CALL or the cancer information centre. page 33

36 Volunteers The Christie has over 300 volunteers who help around the hospital and many more who help with fundraising (see donations). We can always use more. If you would like to become a Christie volunteer, phone for an information pack on Refreshments at The Christie Drinks, cakes and sandwiches are available at the coffee shop in the Oak Road reception. Hot lunches can be obtained at the weekends and bank holidays. Opening times vary: Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm; Saturday and Sunday 9am to 4pm. The tea bar in outpatients is open Monday to Thursday 9.30am to 5pm and Friday 9.30am to 3.30pm for drinks and snacks. Patients and visitors can get a snack, salad or a hot meal from the dining room, open Monday to Friday 7am to 3pm. Cooked breakfast is served from 8.30am to 11am, hot lunches between 11.45am and 2pm. Ask the staff to direct you. Patient advice and liaison service (PALS) PALS provides a confidential listening, advice, information and support service for any patient, relative or carer who has a problem using Christie services. PALS gives on-the-spot assistance and aims to resolve any concerns as quickly as possible. If you have any worries about the care or services at The Christie or if you need any advice or information, please speak to the staff involved or your consultant. They will make every effort to answer your queries. If, after this, you remain dissatisfied or you need further help, then please contact PALS. The PALS service is normally available: 10am to 4pm, Monday to Thursday and 10am to 3pm Friday. Phone There is a 24-hour answerphone or pals@ christie.nhs.uk page 34

37 Giving your views and getting involved We are keen to improve the quality of our service. You can help us by letting us know what you think about The Christie what you like and what could be improved. Talk to PALS Fill in a comment form (available from Oak Road reception, outpatients or Christie website). Complaints or concerns If you wish to make a complaint or raise concerns you can do this through the PALS service. You can also write to either the Chief Executive or our complaints manager at: The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Wilmslow Road, Manchester M20 4BX. If you prefer, you can telephone our complaints manager on or you can provide your feedback through our website The Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS) can give independent advice and support to anyone raising a complaint relating to NHS Services ( ). Cancer information centres There is a cancer information centre at each of our hospital sites. The centres offer a free confidential service for anyone affected by cancer on any cancer related issues by drop in or telephone including: information, advice and emotional support on treatment side effects and supportive care talking to children complementary therapy services counselling and support groups health promotion travel insurance. The Christie at Withington Tel: The Christie at Oldham The Christie at Salford Tel: page 35

38 Donations to The Christie charity Help us to save more lives, develop new treatments, build state-ofthe-art facilities and support our patients and families. Here are some ways you can donate/support The Christie: by cheque; online via the website; by credit/debit card; a regular donation via direct debit or standing order; through payroll giving; increasing your donation with gift aid; support through your company; taking part in an event. Contact our events team or fundraiser in your community. You may post donations to us at: The Christie Charity, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Wilmslow Road, Withington, Manchester M20 4BX. Cheques should be made payable to The Christie. Please do not put cash in the post. If you have carried out a collection and want to hand some cash over, please pop into the office: we are always delighted to greet our supporters in person. The office is located on Wilmslow Road, near the outpatient entrance to The Christie. Our office hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Donations may also be made to the cashier in the main building open Monday to Friday 9:30am to 1pm, 2pm to 4pm. You will always be given a formal receipt. The artwork in this booklet was created by patients at The Christie The Christie charity no appeal@christie.org page 36

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