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Derriford Hospital provides a complete and comprehensive cancer service for patients of all ages, throughout their cancer journey. 

Surgery 

Sometimes an operation to remove the cancer might be the only treatment you need. But very often treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and /or inmunotherapy are used along with surgery. The operation you have will depend on the type of cancer you have and other factors like where it is and its size. 

Surgery isn’t only used to remove cancers. For example you may have a minor operation to take a biopsy, which is when a sample of tissue is removed or having a central line put in, which is then used to give chemotherapy treatment. 

The thought of having any type of operation can be a bit scary. But knowing a bit more about what to expect can help you feel more prepared. 

Clinical Haematology Unit

Bracken Ward on the 8th floor of Derriford Hospital has 22 inpatient beds, 10 of which are private rooms, these rooms include en- suite facilities, smart TV’s, X-box Kinect. It also has a breakout room for patients and visitors. 

This unit caters for patients with diseases of the blood, both malignant and non malignant and provides comprehensive diagnostic services and continuing management to these patients.  

This includes:

•  Autologous and Allogeneic Stem cell Transplants
• Intensive Chemotherapy and management of the side effects of chemotherapy
• Haemophilia and complex bleeding disorders
• Symptom Control
• Treatment of Infection
• Specialist Palliative Care
• End of Life care 

Derriford Hospital covers a wide geographical area and patients travel from our partnership hospitals throughout the southwest to receive specialist care such as Stem Cell transplants from both sibling and volunteer donors. 

The stem cell transplant unit has full accreditation from JACIE. 

Haematology Outpatient Services

Birch Day Case is located on the 8th floor in Derriford Hospital main tower block.

• Clinical assessment service following in patient stay and in emergency situations
• Administration of chemotherapy and supportive agents on a daily basis
• Peripheral blood stem cell harvest by Apheresis (fully accredited by JACIE and the human Tissue Authority)
• General Haematology Service
• Anticoagulation Service
• Suspected Cancer Service
•  Intrathecal Chemotherapy 

We have an active Haematology Research Trials unit with a wide portfolio of clinical trials for malignant and non-malignant Haematology disease. 

Clinical Oncology Unit 

Brent Ward on the 8th floor of Derriford Hospital has 28 inpatient beds, which include 7 side rooms.  

This unit caters for patients with solid malignant tumours, and provides comprehensive diagnostic services and continuing management to these patients this includes:

• Chemotherapy
• Prostate Brachytherapy
• Radiotherapy
• Radioactive iodine treatments
• Symptom control
• Specialist Palliative Care
• End of Life Care 

Macmillan Cancer Support has provided an information pod with leaflets, resources and a PC, you may access this at any time whilst an inpatient. 

Oncology Outpatient Department

Outpatients is situated on Level 2 of the Hospital.  

Oncology Chemotherapy Department

Fal ward is situated on level 4 in Derriford Hospital main tower block. It offers administration of chemotherapy and supportive agents on a daily basis.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is the controlled targeting of radiation (beams of energy) at cancer cells. The purpose of radiotherapy is to destroy cancer cells whilst protecting as much normal tissue as possible. Radiotherapy is situated in The Oncology Out-Patient Department on Level 2 of the hospital.