Other services you may require

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy uses high energy X-rays to treat a wide variety of cancers. This treatment may be given alone or as well as other treatments.

Radiotherapy is usually a course of treatment given daily or several times a week. The treatment takes about 20 minutes and is painless.

The Radiotherapy Department is located on the ground floor of the Oncology Centre at CGH. Please check in at the main Oncology Reception and you will be directed to the waiting area. A radiographer will call you through when they are ready to do your planning CT scan or deliver your treatment.

More information can be found below:

The Specialist Palliative Care and Enhanced Supportive Care Team

The team includes specially trained nurses and doctors who will support you if you have complex symptoms and needs which have not responded to usual measures. Examples of this may be physical symptoms such as pain, psychosocial needs or support around advance care planning and practical needs.

The specialist palliative care team can see you as an outpatient, in hospital or in your own home, dependent on your needs and condition. The team also offer follow up appointments via telephone or video calls as needed. Please speak to your consultant, their team or nurses, if you think this service might help you.

For some types of cancer, the enhanced supportive care service is available. The service consists of doctors, nurses and other health care professionals and can support you to stay well during your cancer treatment and after the treatment has finished. Supportive care focuses on managing any problems caused by cancer or its treatment. If you are referred to enhanced supportive care, you may be seen as an outpatient or reviewed by telephone or video calls.

Cancer & Palliative Care Psychology Services

People often describe the emotional and psychological side of dealing with cancer as harder than dealing with the physical side. Many people cope with the support of friends and family around them, but sometimes it can be helpful to meet with a psychologist if your diagnosis or treatment is having a big impact on you.

The cancer and palliative care psychology service can help with: adjusting to a diagnosis, anxiety, panic and worry, low mood, coping with treatment and side effects, traumatic events, body image concerns, fear of recurrence and many more concerns. The psychologists work closely with the multi-disciplinary team, all of whom can refer you to meet a cancer psychologist if you wish.

Contact information for Cancer and Palliative Care Psychology Services:

Gloucestershire Royal Hospital

Tel: 0300 422 8523

Cheltenham General Hospital

Tel: 0300 422 3443

Haematological Cancers Psychology

Tel: 0300 422 8523

All phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 08.30 to 4.00pm.

More information can be found below:

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials play a major part in the progression and improvement of cancer care. The clinical trials team is involved in national and international research studies, ethically approved to recruit patients within the NHS. There is a dedicated cancer research team who works closely with the oncologists and haematologists to provide patients the opportunity to enter into these clinical trials.

There may not always be a trial available that suits your specific cancer but you can ask your doctor if they know any clinical trials that you may be eligible to join.

Dietetics

Dietitians can support you to eat and drink well when you have a diagnosis of cancer. Good nutrition can help your treatment and quality of life. They can also help your family and carers, and can advise healthcare professionals who are supporting you with your diet and nutrition.

They can help you before, during or after treatment. Simply by assessing what nutrition advice you need at each stage of your care. This may include making the most of what you are eating, supporting you with your weight and strength, or using special nutrition treatments if required.

These Specialist Dietitians include those working specifically in cancer pre-habilitation, head and neck cancer and upper gastrointestinal cancer care. Dietitians work at Cheltenham General Hospital and Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

Your Consultant and their team can refer you to a dietician if you are experiencing any difficulties in eating or drinking or if you may have concerns regarding your diet.

Pharmacy

Every SACT prescription is checked by a member of the Cancer Services Pharmacy team. The pharmacy team consists of pharmacists, technicians and assistants.

If you are having treatment in either of the outpatient departments (Avening Ward or in the Edward Jenner Unit), your medicines will usually be sent directly there.

Prescriptions for intravenous SACT are sent to a manufacturing unit to be made.

Prescriptions for oral SACT are sent to a dispensing pharmacy. You may need to collect medicines from one of our pharmacies. Gloucestershire Royal Hospital have one pharmacy department. Cheltenham General Hospital has two pharmacy departments; the main dispensary in the West Block area, and the oncology dispensary based in Oncology Outpatients in the Oncology Centre. You will be told where to collect your medicines from, when the prescription is completed.

Pharmacy opening times:

• CGH Oncology dispensary: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to -5:00pm
• CGH main dispensary (West Block): Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm, Saturday 10:00am to 1:00pm
• GRH pharmacy: Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm

All pharmacies are closed to outpatients on Sundays and bank holidays.

Oral treatment consultation

Before you start taking an oral cancer treatment, you will have a consultation with one of the pharmacy team. During this consultation, they will discuss with you:

• What your medicine is called and what it is used for
• What support medications you may need to take alongside it
• How and when to take your medicines
• possible side effects and how to manage them
• Information about the Acute Haematology Oncology Unit, the FOCUS Information Centre and other support services such as Maggie’s Centre.
• Other medicines you take at home and their effect, if any, on your cancer treatment
• Information about the “Homecare” service, if applicable

Homecare

Some medicines can be delivered to your home by Homecare. If you are eligible for Homecare, you will receive a small supply at first. You will then receive a phone call from one of our Homecare companies to arrange delivery of a further and ongoing supply. At your next clinic appointment, you will be given a “buffer” supply of medication to prevent you from running out while waiting for your next delivery. This will be explained in detail during your pharmacy consultation. A consent form for your medicines will be completed by a member of the pharmacy team.

Volunteers

The volunteering team is made up of a range of people who all share qualities such as friendliness, reliability and a genuine wish to help. They are easy to spot, wearing red shirts and a lanyard. Please approach a volunteer in our hospitals if you require any assistance. Volunteers are available to help at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital.

Chaplaincy volunteers

Chaplaincy volunteers do not wear red shirts, they are in their own clothes. They can provide spiritual, emotional and befriending care and support to you.

You can contact the chaplaincy volunteers on the numbers below:

Cheltenham General Hospital

Tel: 0300 422 4286

Gloucestershire Royal Hospital

Tel: 0300 422 6200

Email: ghn-tr.spiritualcare@nhs.net