About our haematology service
The Haematology team cares for a comprehensive range of haematological conditions in adults. Patients with rare inherited bleeding disorders eg haemophilia, and those requiring intensive acute leukaemia chemotherapy and bone marrow/stem cell transplantation are referred to regional tertiary centres.
The department is recognised for its expertise in managing sickle cell disease and thalassaemia. The team offers a full specialist service to patients from a wide geographical area and supports NHS providers in Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and East of England. It is supported by a senior Transfusion Practitioner and a red cell nurse specialist as well as a Clinical Psychologist. Automated red cell exchange is provided on site.
Find out more about our sickle cell and thalassaemia care on our dedicated service page.
Patients with blood cancers are seen in designated clinics for the diagnosis and management of lymphoma and myeloma and myeloid cancers. Patients are supported by two experienced haemato-oncology clinical nurse specialists. In Feb 2020, we were the proud recipient of the Myeloma UK Clinical Service Excellence Programme award, which formally recognises the care provided to patients with myeloma.
Our patients have access to:
- A Chemotherapy Day Unit on Podium 1, shared with oncology where chemotherapy, venesections, bone marrows and other procedures are undertaken
- Red Cell Day Unit for haemoglobinopathy patients receiving transfusions and other booked day case procedures, including automated exchange transfusions
- Sickle Cell Day Unit offering assessment and pain relief for a sub-group of frequently presenting patients with sickle cell disease
The anticoagulation service is nurse lead and provides out-patients clinics Monday to Friday. There are currently six anticoagulation nurses, trained in the initiation of both Warfarin and DOACs and five of whom are nurse prescribers. The anticoagulation lcinic is in Clinic 9 which is located on Level 0, ground floor of the main building - accessible via the main hospital entrance.
Our inpatients are managed by a dedicated inpatient Haematology team, led by a Consultant and with a Haematology Registrar and 2 junior medical trainees.
Laboratory haematology services at NMUH are provided by Health Services Laboratories (HSL), which currently operates a rapid response laboratory (RRL) at North Middlesex Hospital. A 24-hour service is provided for inpatients, with an extended routine day and two on-site biomedical scientists providing routine haematology, coagulation and blood transfusion services. Our haematology team are closely involved in interpreting results and providing clinical input into the laboratory.We offer bone marrow and a full range of blood cancer tests and all our samples are sent to the UCLH specialist integrated haematological malignancy diagnostic service (SIHMDS) for specialist reporting.