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• Tom Rees
• Adele Brookes

Clinical Nurse Specialists

• Amy Herlihy
• Beth Ohlson

CNS Support Worker

• Nigel Amparado

The Haematology Clinical Nurse Specialist team are a group of nurses who provide expert advice and support to patients and their families who have a haematological diagnosis.

The haematology service treat both malignant and non-malignant blood conditions including acute and chronic leukaemia’s, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, myeloproliferative disorders and anaemia. We work across all 3 hospital sites; Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Alexandra Hospital Redditch and Kidderminster Hospital and Treatment centres.

The CNS team work Monday – Friday 09.00 – 17.00 excluding bank holidays. The team can be contacted via phone on 01905 760695 or ask for bleep 357 via switchboard on 01905 763333. We can also answer enquires via email on the following address; wah-tr.haematologycns@nhs.net

Patients who are on active treatment need to call the Acute Oncology Service (AOS) helpline if they are experiencing side effects from treatment, have any signs of infection or high temperatures. The AOS helpline is a 24-hour service to triage and assess patients who are unwell as a result of treatment.

The 24 hour AOS Helpline number is 01905 760158.

If this number is unable please call 01905 763333 and ask for bleep 491.

Please do not call the CNS team with treatment related issues you will be advised to call the AOS.

The Haematology CNS team are happy to answer queries about appointments, medications, investigations, symptoms or any general advice about haematological conditions.

Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner

• Tuney Thomas

Tuney Thomas is a trainee Haematology Advanced Clinical Practitioner. This role is to work alongside Consultants/Registrars in an outpatient setting to review patients with Myeloproliferative Neoplasms like Polycythaemia Rubra Vera, Essential Thrombocythaemia and patients on chemotherapy, for example; RCHOP for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and ABVD for Hodgkins Lymphoma.

They will also be working with the Haematology CNS team in offering a holistic service to all patients who fall under our care.

• Lesley Candlin

My role is to support you and your family throughout the transplant process. There are three types of stem cell transplants:

Allogeneic This is where cells are collected from matched donor and returned to the patient following high dose chemotherapy. This transplant type is used to treat some types of AML, ALL, MDS and CMML.

Autologous This type of transplant is where your own cells are harvested and given back to you following high dose chemotherapy. Autologous transplants are used to treat myeloma and some types of lymphoma.

CAR-T This is a new type of transplant, where T-cells are collected from patients and programmed to recognise specific cancer cells as a virus. This means the T-cells will ‘attack’ any of specific cancer cells, as they would a virus. Currently, this is used to treat some relapsed ALL and lymphomas, but trials are ongoing.

All transplant types are carried out at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham and we aim to repatriate autologous patients to Laurel 3 for recovery once their cells have been returned. I liaise closely with my colleagues in Clinical Haematology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, our local Transplant Centre, with an aim to provide you with seamless care and transition between the two sites.

I understand how difficult this period can be for both patients and families. Please be reassured that you can call me to either make a face-to-face appointment or discuss any concerns you have over the telephone, whichever you are more comfortable with. I am also contactable via email (l.candlin@nhs.net) or through switchboard (01905 763333) and ask for bleep 113.

I work Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm.

Useful links: Anthony Nolan: How to Become a Donor (and other info) DMKS: How to Become a Donor (and other info) NHS Stem Cell Transplant Information Autologous Stem Cell Transplant Video (Myeloma UK) Leukaemia Care: Sibling Donor Experience Blood Cancer UK: CAR-T Therapy

• Sam Toland

SACT Pathway Navigator for Haematology

• Janice Tilsley