Consultant Haematologist

Inpatients are admitted under the care of the physicians, either on ward 42 in Darlington Memorial Hospital (where there is generally a mix of haematology, oncology, specialty and general medical patients) or other medical wards. Inpatient management of haematological aspects of patient care is undertaken by the haematologists in a joint liaison role with the physicians. The bulk of the haematology caseload is outpatient and day cases; there are regular busy clinical sessions for these cases in each of Darlington, Bishop Auckland, Durham and Shotley Bridge Hospitals. Each day unit provides facilities for bone marrow biopsy, intravenous chemotherapy, venesections etc.

Chemotherapy trained nurses assist on the day units at all sites. The day units facilities are shared with visiting oncologists. The Trust works in partnership with the Northern Cancer Alliance and delivers level 2a care. Level 2b care upwards (approximately 15 cases per year) is delivered by the neighbouring trusts (South Tees and Newcastle Hospitals).

Level 3 and 4 care is provided at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. The clinical team attend the weekly lymphoma and leukaemia/myeloma MDTs at Freeman Hospital in Newcastle (either in person or via Teams). We use the chemocare chemotherapy prescribing system in line with most other haematology services in the region. Paediatric haematology and haemophilia services are organised on a regional basis via RVI Newcastle, but there are instances where the post holder will be involved e.g.

new cases. The anticoagulant service is managed by nurse-led clinics via near patient testing. These clinics are held in 4 sites (UHND, DMH, Richardson Hospital and BAH). The clinic nurses also carry out face to face consultations in various GP practices across county Durham.

We also have almost 500 patients who self-test; they submit their results and receive dosing instructions using a digital solution (either via telephone or e mailing system). This clinical care group contains the pathology specialties haematology and blood transfusion, microbiology, cellular pathology, biochemistry and immunology.The consultant haematologists provide liaison and advisory services for the other clinical services within the Trust and Primary Care, including non-haematological bone marrow examinations, outpatient transfusion and support for antenatal services. CDDFT have a lead for haemostasis and thrombosis and for Blood Transfusion and is supported by a full time Transfusion Practitioner and two Associate Transfusion Practitioners. All new diagnoses of malignant haematology conditions are reviewed through NEHODS (North East Haemato-oncology Diagnostic Service) where bone marrow biopsies and material for cell markers and molecular biology studies are sent.

This links in with the weekly MDT.