Oncology at Cheltenham General Hospital

Avening Ward: Tel: 0300 422 4003 - You may receive your treatment on this ward.

Nurse-Led Clinic (based on Avening Ward): Tel: 0300 422 4003

You may be asked to attend here for supportive treatments. For example, an injection, a blood transfusion or other nursing procedures such as Central Line care.

For Avening Ward and Nurse-Led Clinic:

• Due to space restrictions, please come for treatment alone. Please talk to a member of staff if you need a carer or a translator to attend with you.
• We advise against driving and from your intravenous treatments.
• On arrival for an appointment, please report to the main Oncology Reception. You will be told when to go to the appropriate area.
• There's a small shop in the waiting area which sells cold food and hot/cold drinks.
• On arrival at Avening Ward a member of staff, most likely a volunteer, will be there to greet you.
• You may be asked to sit/stand on a weighing scale to make sure the team has an up-to-date record of your weight. This is because the doses of treatments are often based on your weight.
• If you are having your treatment over lunchtime, you will be offered cold food, such as sandwiches, yoghurts and fruit. Hot drinks and water are available throughout your treatment and these are all free of charge. You can bring in your cold food and drinks if you wish.
• For your treatment, you will be sitting in a reclining armchair.
• Other patients will be having their treatments in the area around you.
• If you require a cannula to be inserted into a vein, the nurses will use equipment to warm your hands and arms to help with this. The warmth will cause your veins to get bigger and be more visible. Staff may also use equipment to help see the veins in your hands and arms to enable them to insert the cannula.
• Toilet facilities are available.
• During some treatments, you may need your urine tested and measured. The nurses will discuss this with you.
• Access to free Wi-Fi is available.
• Mobile devices are allowed but you will not be able to plug them in to charge. Please use headphones when listening to your mobile device so it does not disturb other patients and the staff.

Oncology Outpatients

Tel: 0300 422 4049

You may be asked to attend Oncology Outpatients for clinic consultations/appointments, blood tests and MRSA swabs. In this department, one person can come to your appointment with you. If your treatment is for tablets only, you will be given your medication by the Pharmacy team based in Oncology.

Worcester Suite

Tel: 0300 422 4050 or 0300 422 4728

You may come here for clinic consultations/appointments or minor procedures.

Worcester Suite is also the waiting area for radiotherapy CT scans, radiotherapy treatment appointments and radiography clinic consultations.

The Mobile Cancer Care Unit (MCCU)

The MCCU is a purpose-built mobile unit which provides cancer care treatments closer to people’s homes. It is supported by the national cancer charity, Hope for Tomorrow.

The MCCU contains 4 recliner chairs and all the necessary equipment to provide SACT.

The MCCU travels to community hospitals in Gloucestershire, 4 days a week:

• Monday – Gloucestershire Royal Hospital
• Wednesday - Forest of Dean Community Hospital (Cinderford)
• Thursday - Stroud Hospital
• Friday - Cirencester Hospital

If you are eligible to receive your treatment on the MCCU, this will be discussed with you during your Oncology Pre-SACT call and arranged for you.

The MCCU locations all have free and accessible parking and the use of outpatient waiting facilities. Please ring the bell on the MCCU when you arrive. Space is limited, so the nurses may ask you to wait in the hospital or your car until they are ready. Due to space restrictions on the MCCU, you must come into the unit alone.