We are a nurse-led service, based at the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital.
Our role is support you if you are facing cancer-related emergencies or treatment complications. We act as a link between oncology services, emergency and medical teams.
We provide expert assessment and support to patients who come to hospital with acute cancer-related problems. This could be if you are newly diagnosed, currently undergoing treatment or living with cancer.
Our aim is to make sure you get quick access to specialist advice and treatment. This helps to improve patient outcomes and avoid unnecessary delays or admissions.
We are here to offer timely advice, support and treatment, if you:
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- Have complications from your cancer or its treatment
- Are admitted into hospital with symptoms that may be due to cancer
You may be referred to us by:
- Your oncology team, if you are already under their care
- A hospital team treating you, such as emergency, medical or surgical staff
We work closely with other teams to ensure that we identify any cancer-related issues early. This means we can manage them appropriately.
You cannot self-refer into our service. Your clinical team will contact us directly, if needed.
Depending on the results and your condition, we may:
- Advise the team looking after you of some immediate treatment or symptom relief
- Refer you to your oncology team
- Refer you to our palliative care teams
- Coordinate your follow-up with your existing cancer team
- Arrange further tests or specific reviews
- Assist planning a safe discharge home, with support, if appropriate
Clinical lead: Dr Deepta Churm
Lead clinical nurse specialist: Allison Crispin
Clinical nurse specialists: Michelle Atkinson, Paula Burns, Lara-Jane Brinskey
Pharmacist: Jennifer Lees