Aintree Cancer Centre Outpatients Department

Aintree Cancer Centre Outpatients Department

Aintree Cancer Centre Outpatients Department_0.jpeg

The Head and Neck Oncology clinics are held at the Aintree University Hospital Elective Care Centre.

Patients under the care of a Maxillofacial(MFU) Consultant are seen in Clinic 5.

Patients under the care of an Ear Nose & Throat (ENT) Consultant are seen in Clinic 3.

Patients under the care of an Oncology Consultant are seen in Clinic 6.

The Consultants

The MFU Consultant Surgeons specialising in Head and Neck Oncology are:

Consultant in Oral Rehabilitation

The ENT Consultant Surgeons specialising in Head and Neck Oncology are:

The Oncology Consultants specialising in Head and Neck are:

For more information regarding the 'Oncology Consultants;' click here to access the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre website>

Specialist Registrars - Surgical Trainees (Registrars)

There are Higher Surgical Trainees (HST's) within the unit who are highly experienced in Head and Neck surgery. The HST's work with all the Consultants on a rotational basis.

Core Dental Trainees

A number of these CDTs work within the unit, again rotating within the unit.

The Nursing Staff

All nursing staff can be identified by the colour of their tunics and by their identity badges.

Navy: Clinic Nurse Manager/Deputy Manager
Royal Blue: Staff Nurse
Striped Light Blue: Dental Nurse
Pale Blue: Nursing Assistant

Clinic Nurse Specialist

A clinic nurse specialist (CNS) is available at oncology clinics. They have been trained to specifically support patients and their families/carers. The CNS is available for help and advice for you and your relatives. If you need to see the CNS, just ask your clinic nurse.

Dietician

A trained Dietician visits the clinic on a weekly basis. She is available for help and advice and to monitor your nutritional progress.

Dental Hygienist

A Dental hygienist also works on Clinic 6. They are available for help and advice following your surgery.

Speech Therapist

A speech Therapist attends the oncology clinic and is available for help and advice and to monitor your progress.

Your Appointment

You should already have been given the date of your first appointment on discharge from the head and neck ward. After your first appointment. further appointments should be made with the clinic receptionist at the end of each consultation.

You are advised not to arrive more than 10 minutes before your appointment. Patients are seen in time order only, not in order of time arrived. If you arrive early, you may have a long wait.

The only exception to the rule applies to patients who arrive by ambulance. The ambulance cannot guarantee to get the patient to the clinic on time as they usually pick up a number of patients from the area. Also patients have to wait for the ambulance once they have been seen. The ambulance cannot be booked to take the patient home until the Doctor has seen them. Therefore ambulance patients will go in to see the Doctor as soon as they arrive.

If you cannot keep your appointment, please contact the clinic receptionist Please remember valuable time and money are lost if you do not keep and appointment and other patients have to wait longer for their'first appointment.

It is important to let the receptionist know when you arrive if you have come by ambulance, so that she can book your ambulance for your return home.

Ambulance Service

If you need an ambulance on medical grounds to bring you for your appointment, contact your GP surgery, or see the clinic receptionist, who will be able to make arrangements for you.

If you have to cancel an appointment, remember to cancel your ambulance by telephoning Mersey Ambulance Service 24 hour cancellation line on:- 01244 370 395

Fares

Bus/train fares can be claimed for attending clinic. If you are entitled to claim you should bring your income support book and keep your bus/train ticket. After you have seen the doctor, ask the clinic receptionist for a claim form.

Prescriptions

Medication prescribed in clinic must be obtained from the hospital pharmacy. If you normally pay for your prescriptions, you will be charged standard charges. The hospital pharmacy is open from 9.30am -1 pm and 1.45pm - 5pm. You can get exemption certificates from the Post office or ask at the Pharmacy.

Waiting Times

We will try to see you as near to your appointment time as possible. Sometimes there are unavoidable delays. For example, the doctor may be required elsewhere in an emergency, a patient may require longer than their allotted time or you may be waiting to see a particular doctor. If there are likely to be any delays we will keep you informed.

Medical and Dental Students

As this is a teaching hospital, occasionally there will be students in clinic. These are the doctors and dentists of the future! If you do not wish a student to be present during your consultation, please speak to a member of the nursing staff. This will not affect your treatment.

Your Consultation

The Maxillofacial Unit is a highly recognised regional unit. With this in mind, we ask patients to attend the outpatients department in Walton Hospital, even if you have to travel some distance.

During your consultation, the doctor will examine your mouth and neck. You will notice that the doctor will stand behind you to examine your neck, Do not be alarmed, this way the doctor can make a thorough examination.

It is a good idea to write down any questions that you want to ask the doctor before your visit. That way you will not forget to ask something that is important to you.

If you are on any medication, it is advisable to write down the name of the medication and the dosage, as the doctor will ask you about this.

Although waiting space is limited, you are welcome to bring someone along with you for support.

Patients Requiring Radiotherapy

Some patients will require radiotherapy as part of their treatment. You will already have been given information about this. We strongly recommend the Clatterbridge booklets and these are available in clinic.

Radiotherapy treatment normally lasts for about six weeks. You will usually be seen back in clinic two weeks after completion of your treatment. If you do not have an appointment to come back to clinic, please make one by telephoning the clinic receptionist using the number on the front of this booklet.

If you feel that you need to see a doctor here, at the clinic, during your radiotherapy treatment, again, make an appointment by telephoning the clinic receptionist or Consultant's secretary.

Holistic Care

Holistic care includes acupuncture, aromatherapy, reflexology, hypnotherapy and many other complementary therapies. The approach is aimed at treating the whole person and can bring comfort, hope and support to patients and their carers. Information concerning holistic care is available in Pamphlet No. 1

Points to Remember

Your Diet

It is essential that you have a nutritious and well balanced diet, with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. If you are not able to do so, ask your doctor for vitamin supplements. The dietician can advise you on this.

Alcohol

You should try to reduce or cut out your alcohol intake. If you find this difficult ask the nurses on clinic for advice and information on support services.

Smoking

If you are a smoker, you should stop. There are many support services available. Ask the nurses on clinic for information about smoking cessation. Alternatively you can contact the Smoking Cessation Facilitator at: The Hesketh Centre 51-55 Albert Road Southport. PR9 OLT Tel: 01704 383179

All of these measures will greatly reduce the risk of the cancer coming back.

This hospital operates a no smoking policy throughout both sites for all staff, patients and visitors.

Confidentiality

Every person working within the health service has a legal responsibility to keep any information about you and your treatment confidential.

Sometimes, for your benefit and continued treatment, information about you may be shared with other professionals within the health service.

Also, sometimes, at a later date, some case notes are examined for clinical audit and other studies, or research which assists in identifying and developing the best treatment and practice. You will be asked to sign a separate consent form to allow key information about your cancer and its treatment to be entered into the MFU departmental cancer database. If you do not want information on a database and choose not to sign the consent, it will not alter your treatment in any way. In these circumstances, only 4 items will be stored; your hospital unit number, diagnosis, date of diagnosis and treatment.

Your Questions

Note down your questions and bring them with you.