What we do
The Chemotherapy Unit at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital provides treatment for both oncology and haematology patients, who live within the East Lancashire area. Our patients have to be referred to us by either an oncology consultant or a haematology consultant after being diagnosed with some form of cancer. We are a day-case unit and we have 14 chairs on the unit. We also carry out some minor procedures on the unit including insertion of semi-permanent lines for certain treatments and bone marrow biopsies.
How to access the service
Patients can access the service once they have been referred to the chemotherapy unit by a consultant. Appointments are always required as we do not offer a drop-in session yet. We do offer a telephone triage service, where the patients can call the unit for advice or if they become unwell. The chemotherapy staff can then arrange direct admission to the hospital for review or treatment required.
Where to find us
The Chemotherapy Unit is based on level 1 at Royal Blackburn Hospital (Turn right at the Macmillan hub).
Ward Manager
Ruth Brierley is the manager at Blackburn Chemotherapy Unit. The matron for Cancer services is Angela Holden.
Key staff
The unit has one senior sister, three junior sisters and eight staff nurses who are all trained in administering chemotherapy and other biological therapies.
The unit has three health care assistants and three ward clerks.
All of our patients will be under the care of one of our fourteen consultants.
We have a haematology specialist doctor who is normally on the unit for four mornings during the week to review our haematology patients prior to treatment.
General enquiries
The Unit provides a 24 hour helpline for patients or relatives to call if required.
Telephone number is 01254 734590.
Opening/visiting times
The chemotherapy unit is open from 8.30am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday, but is closed on bank holidays. The trust provides a 24 hour helpline which is manned by trained systemic anti-cancer therapy nurses, so advice is always available for our patients. Visitors are not allowed on the unit at any time during opening hours, for patient safety due to the space available and patients are immunocompromised whilst undergoing treatment. If you do need to bring a relative or carer with you, please call the unit beforehand and ask to speak to the nursing team.
Additional Information
Whilst on the unit our patients will be offered hot and cold beverages and are provided with either a hot or cold meal at dinner time. Our patients are allowed to bring in their own food and soft drinks if desired. We have a television in the chemotherapy unit. Many of our patients bring their own books or tablets to keep themselves occupied whilst sitting and having their treatments.
If any special preparation is required for treatments, we will contact the patient via phone to inform them exactly what is required.