Haematology Unit

The Haematology Unit comprises of a high dependency inpatient transplant unit (Bracken ward) and a separate day case unit on Birch, with provision for additional inpatient beds on Brent ward. Outpatient activity for Clinical Immunology and Haematology is also carried out in The Eden Unit at Derriford. The Haematology unit serves those who are living in Plymouth, East Cornwall and South Devon with a tertiary care role for a wider population as the unit is a lead provider for some specialist treatments. Treatment will be provided to the adult population; children will continue to be treated within the paediatric service with support from haematologists with a specific interest and training in paediatric haematology disorders.

The inpatient transplant unit, Bracken, comprises isolation beds of negative-pressure rooms and standard isolation rooms. The ward supports autologous, related and matched unrelated haematopoietic stem cell and bone-marrow adult transplants.

Brent ward has a six-bedded bay dedicated to haematology inpatients.

The day case unit delivers day case chemotherapy and blood transfusions. The unit delivers a wide range of chemotherapy covering short regimes up to all day treatments and blood transfusions. The unit is supported by a dedicated haematological pharmacist. The unit also provides peripheral blood stem Cell apheresis for haematological malignancy for autologous and sibling allogeneic donors, and can provide plasma exchange and leucopheresis. The apheresis service holds unconditional accreditation to JACIE (Joint Accreditation Committee-ISCT (Europe)) and holds a licence for the activity from the Human Tissue Authority. If there are any problems, haematology doctors are available to give advice and assess patients. Patients can also have treatment in a community setting as outreach services are run in Liskeard, Tavistock and Kingsbridge.

Bracken ward has achieved JACIE accreditation as it provides reinfusion and post-transplant care for patients undergoing peripheral blood stem cell transplant, including autologous, sibling allogeneic and matched unrelated donor transplants. The unit is the referral centre for Cornwall, Devon and parts of Somerset. Ultimately patients are able to benefit from the provision of an accredited service within the peninsula and avoid lengthy journeys elsewhere for treatment.

Outpatient clinics are staffed by all of the haematologists with sub-specialty clinics being run by haematologists with an interest and experience in that area e.g. lymphoma clinic. Education and support is given by specialist nurses and they provide a telephone contact service as well as running nurse-led outpatient clinics.

The consultants have also held positions on national committees and some are leads in their field e.g. Dr Simon Rule is considered the UK authority on Mantle Cell Lymphoma, in 2009 Derriford Hospital was named an exemplar centre in the UK for prevention and management of VTE.

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