From today, 1 November 2103 there is a new 24 hour telephone helpline service available for Island residents who are receiving chemotherapy from the Clatter bridge Cancer Centre under the care of Oncology Consultants. The telephone helpline will offer expert help and advice to patients for chemotherapy related problems and to all health professionals who may require more specialised chemotherapy information.
The helpline is manned by expert Chemotherapy Nurses, based at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, who will be able to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the problem before offering advice and help. This means that patients will have support outside of normal working hours for any worries or concerns they may have in relation to their condition and treatment.
Member for Health Services, Mr Butt MLC, said:
'The Department welcomes this additional service provided by Clatterbridge Cancer Centre as it will improve the standard of care provided to patients and their families, as well as providing health professionals with support from people with specialist skills and knowledge. The advice given could help avoid unnecessary visits to Noble’s Hospital or GP practices whilst offering reassurance to patients and their carers who are unsure about how to deal with side-effects from their chemotherapy treatment.'
The telephone triage service, which was launched in the UK almost three years ago, has been used by many people all over the North West region and in parts of Cumbria and North Wales.
Dr Ahmed, Visiting Consultant Physician for Oncology, said:
'This helpline is an essential part of the chemotherapy service that will help and support both patients and staff at Noble’s Hospital. The telephone triage service that the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre provides has been recognised as a national peer review requirement, to deliver exceptional standards of care for patients diagnosed with cancer and who are undergoing chemotherapy.'
The telephone helpline will be in operation from midnight on 1 November 2013 on Tel: 0151 334 1155, and ask for Bleep 5555. Over the course of the next few weeks, all new patients and those already receiving chemotherapy treatment will be issued with an ‘Alert Card’ which contains contact information.
