Teenage and young adult ambulatory care service

You are able to stay at home during your treatment if:

• You live within a 30-minute travel time to UCLH.
• you have family or a friend available to drive/get a taxi to the hospital at any time of the day or night.

The goal of Ambulatory Care is to help you feel a bit more independent during your treatment. It will also offer you private time and space.

You will continue to have full access to medical and nursing care. There will always be a senior nurse you can contact 24 hours a day in case you need advice or become unwell.

You will receive the same treatment as you would on the ward, except that it will be scheduled between 8am and 6pm.

You will be able to carry on with daily activities away from the hospital.

We will give you treatment times to attend each day. This will allow you to plan meals, activities, and rest.

Your ambulatory care nurse will assess you and check your temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and weight. Please tell your nurse if you are feeling or being sick, if you have diarrhoea or if you experience fatigue.

Your healthcare team will arrange your blood tests according to your treatment plan. They will discuss the results with you.

You will receive your prescribed chemotherapy treatment and any additional intravenous fluids (fluids given directly into the vein), or blood or platelet transfusions, if you need them.

Please note that chemotherapy, blood transfusions, and platelet transfusions are ordered specifically for each patient. They can take up to two hours to be ready.

You will be responsible for taking your own oral medicines, and your nurse will check daily that you are managing this. If you are unable to take your medicines independently, a family member or carer can do this for you. We will give you a reminder chart to make this process easier, but please tell us if you are having any problems. We will also order your medicines for you, so let us know when you need more.

You will need to check your temperature at night or when you are not in the unit. This is particularly important if you are currently having treatment or if you finished your treatment. We will show you and your carer how to do this.

If needed, an advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) or a consultant will review you and make any necessary adjustments to your care.

You can see your physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, counsellors, and social workers as you need. Please ask your nurse about joint therapy sessions that may be running during your treatment in AC.

You can spend time during the day in our social area for games and activities, as long as you don’t have an infection.

We always do our best to keep to time and provide the most efficient care possible. Please try to be patient if things take longer than expected.

The senior nurses on the inpatient wards T12 North (the Tower) and 2 East (Grafton Way Building) will assist you if you need any help overnight or out of hours. Please contact the interpreter who will liaise with the inpatient team.

Ambulatory care 24-hour line: 07971 946 508 (interpreter)

020 3456 7111 (nurse held phone)      

It’s important that you contact our team at any time of the day or night if you develop any of the following symptoms:

• Shivers or hot flushes
• Temperatures close to or above 38 degrees
• Persistent vomiting and/or diarrhoea
• Shortness of breath or difficulties with your breathing
• Redness and pain around your central line.

Depending on your symptoms, you may need to make your way to the hospital to be reviewed by your doctor or a nurse practitioner. Please bring your medicines with you if this is the case. Your healthcare team may decide to admit you to hospital if you require close monitoring and additional treatment that cannot be managed within the ambulatory setting. This may include fluids or antibiotics.

You must phone us if you or your family member/carer experience:

• any infectious symptoms, such as runny nose, sneezing, diarrhoea, or vomiting
• any symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever (temperature close to or above 38 degrees), continuous cough, or loss or change in taste or smell.

This is especially important before coming to the Cancer Centre. We will advise you where to go for your assessment to minimise the risk of infection spreading to other patients.

Please bring the following items with you:

• A thermometer to check your temperature when in the hotel/home
• A mobile phone with charger
• Daywear, nightclothes and toiletries (please remember to keep your luggage as light as possible so that it may be easily transported from your accommodation to the hospital if necessary)
• All medicines you are taking, including prescription, over-the-counter, herbal, homeopathic, or traditional
• Books, magazines, games and gadgets
• Mobility aid(s) if you need them
• Food and snacks for your stay
• Reusable hot and cold drink cups, if you wish.

If you are receiving treatment in the Cancer Centre during lunchtime, we will provide you with a meal. You can also buy snacks and meals on the ground floor of the Cancer Centre.

The Cotton Rooms Hotel and nearby hotels provide breakfast for patients and their companion.

There is a cafe on the ground floor of Grafton Way Building and an M&S on the corner of Grafton Way and Tottenham Court Road.

There are also plenty of supermarkets, cafes and restaurants around the UCLH. Or, if you wish, you may choose to bring some food from home for your stay.

All accommodation providers have rooms and facilities suitable for wheelchair access or for those unable to climb stairs.

If your treatment requires you to carry a backpack, we will assess your ability to do this safely before you start ambulatory care.