Our haematology team may see you if you need treatment for a blood disease, need a blood transfusion or have blood clotting problems.

Haematology is the branch of medicine that deals with the study and treatment of blood, blood clotting, bone marrow and some lymph node disorders.

We see patients with a variety of conditions. These can be cancerous or non-cancerous. Different conditions need different treatments and management.

Some examples of these conditions are:

  • Blood cancers:
    • Leukaemia
    • Hodgkin Lymphoma
    • Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
    • Myeloma
    • Myelodysplastic syndrome
    • Myeloproliferative neoplasm
  • Non-cancerous conditions:
    • Anaemia
    • Immune thrombocytopenia
    • Red cell disorders
    • Problems with the blood clotting system


Tests to diagnose your condition can be performed as an inpatient or outpatient. Your medical or nursing teams will explain these to you. They may include blood tests, scans or a bone marrow biopsy.

We will give you information about your condition after diagnosis.

Your GP or another hospital specialist can refer you.

The most common reasons for referral are:

  • Abnormalities in a blood test
  • Symptoms you have

Symptoms can include breathlessness and fatigue. The cause could be an abnormality of blood clotting or a disease of the blood, bone marrow or lymph nodes.

The kinds of abnormalities we see in a blood test include the following:

  • Anaemia – low haemoglobin or red blood cells
  • Leucopenia – low white cells
  • Thrombocytopenia – low platelets
  • Polycythaemia – too many red blood cells
  • Leucocytosis – too many white blood cells
  • Thrombocytosis – too many platelets
  • Thrombosis - forming blood clots

Our team includes:

  • Haematology consultants
  • Rotational medics
  • A haematology pharmacist
  • Haematology advanced clinical practitioners
  • Haematology clinical nurse specialists
  • A patient care coordinator

Your consultant haematologist will take you through your diagnosis. They will explain how we will manage your disease, plan treatment and monitor your progress.

The advanced clinical practitioners will help plan any treatment or procedures you need.

Your haematology clinical nurse specialist, who is also your key worker, is responsible for:

  • Expert advice for you, your carers and other health professionals
  • Pointing you to other information and support
  • Co-ordinating your care
  • Managing specific patient groups
  • Ensuring you get the best possible service

Your haematology specialist pharmacist has expert knowledge of medicines. They manage specific patient groups in designated clinics.

You may have outpatient clinic appointments with any of the above.

The patient care coordinator can provide support and signposting to specialist services and charities.

Other people who may be involved in your care are:

  • Secretaries / clerical officers, to help with appointment changes and transport
  • Research nurses, sometimes known as a clinical trials officers or research practitioners
  • Chemotherapy team
  • Psychology team
  • Palliative care team
  • Transplant team
  • Radiotherapy team
  • Dietician
  • Macmillan benefits advisor
  • Specialist registrar in haematology

Treatments may include:

  • Chemotherapy
  • Immunoglobulin therapy - this increases the level of antibodies in the blood
  • Radiotherapy
  • Supportive therapies such as blood transfusions
  • Targeted drug therapies
  • Venesection (removal of blood from a vein)
  • Research or clinical trials if available

You may have these treatments alone or in combination. Some treatments are taken at home. Others take place at a haematology clinic, the medical day unit or in the oncology day units. We have sites at Hexham, Wansbeck, North Tyneside, Alnwick and Berwick.

Radiotherapy and other treatments which require a stay in hospital take place at the Northern Centre for Cancer Care. This is at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

Research

We carry out different sorts of research at Northumbria Healthcare. You may hear the words research, clinical trials and studies used. We encourage you to ask if there is any research which you may want to take part in.

We carry out research into:

  • New medicines / treatments and new ways of using ones that are already available
  • The way in which you receive your medicines / treatments.
  • Your experience of your treatment is delivered and how it affects you

Research is always voluntary. If you decide not to take part, this will not affect your care.

  • Aplastic Anaemia Trust
  • Blood Cancer UK - A blood cancer charity for people affected by leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and other blood disorders.
  • Bright Red - A north of England charity for people dealing with blood cancer.
  • CLL Support Association - Support for people affected by chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
  • CML Support - Information and support related to chromic myeloid leukaemia.
  • FACT - Provides support and social opportunities for all cancer patients, survivors, their family and friends to meet, form friendships, and build communities with others in similar positions.
  • ITP Support Association - Support for people with immune thrombocytopenia.
  • Leukaemia Care - Support and information about blood cancers, including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.
  • Lymphoma Action
  • Macmillan Cancer Support
  • Maggie’s Newcastle – Practical, emotional and social support.
  • Marie Curie Cancer Care - Helping people living with a terminal illness to make the most of the time they have left.
  • MPN Voice - Information and support for those with myeloproliferative neoplasm or MPD (myeloproliferative disorder).
  • Myeloma UK - Charity focused on people affected by myeloma.
  • Thrombosis UK - It has a mission to provide support to all those living with and affected by thrombosis.

If you are a carer, you can find more information here.

Other useful links

My Wellbeing Space

Cancer information and support :: Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Help with health costs - NHS

Help with travel costs :: Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Citizens Advice

Department for Work and Pensions - GOV.UK

Macmillan Welfare Benefits Service - Patients can self-refer via 01670 641903 ormacmillan@citizensadvicenorthumberland.org.uk

Trust wide
  • Becky Watson, patient / cancer care co-ordinator - 07970 841666
Alnwick
  • Oncology Day Unit
    • 01665 626755
    • Open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8.30am to 5pm.
Berwick
  • Oncology Day Unit
    • 01289 356653
    • Open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 8.30am to 5pm.
Hexham
  • Dr Alex Langridge, consultant haematologist
    • Dr Langridge’s secretary - 01670 529831
  • Dr Chris Williams, consultant haematologist
    • Dr William’s secretary - 0191 293 2535
  • Susan Duffy, advanced clinical practitioner
  • Emily Stewart, clinical nurse specialist - 01434 655001
  • Claire Baggaley, secretary - 0191 293 2535
  • Oncology Day Unit - 01434 655078
North Tyneside
  • Dr Charlotte Bomken, consultant haematologist
  • Dr Chris Williams, consultant haematologist
    • Clare Baggaley, secretary - 0191 293 2535
  • Dr Mari Kilner, consultant haematologist
  • Dr Chris Tiplady, consultant haematologist
    • Lauren Day, secretary - 0191 293 4157
  • Dr Smeera Nair, consultant haematologist
    • Secretary - 01670 529060
  • Dr Nikki Redding, consultant haematologist
    • Lois King, secretary - 0191 293 2711
  • Susan Duffy, advanced clinical practitioner
  • Lauren Day, secretary - 0191 293 4157
  • Catherine Ashbrook-Raby and Lauren Higgins, clinical nurse specialists - 0191 293 4146
  • Oncology Day Unit - 0191 293 2751
Wansbeck
  • Dr George Holmes, consultant haematologist
  • Dr Nitha Ramachandran, consultant haematologist
    • Caroline Henderson, secretary - 01670 529036
  • Dr Alex Langridge, consultant haematologist
    • Izzy Parker, secretary - 01670 529831
  • Dr Simon Lyons, consultant haematologist
    • Maria McHugh, lead secretary - 01670 529815
  • Dr Jennifer Swieton, consultant haematologist
    • Elaine Wylie, secretary - 01670 529709
  • Rebecca Dewar, advanced clinical practitioner
  • Izzy Parker, secretary 01670 529831
  • Donna Morton and Carolyn Misola, clinical nurse specialists - 01670 529816
  • Oncology Day Unit 01670 529651
Out of hours contact numbers

If you are a chemotherapy patient and need urgent out of hours advice, please refer to your cancer treatment record book. This will have the most up to date contact information.

Video consultations

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We can offer online consultations where appropriate via a video call to make it easier for you to attend.

Rather than travelling to your appointment, you will receive a text or email before your appointment and simply need to click to join. Find out more here.

 

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