Cancer services

In line with national guidance on cancer waiting times, we are working to give patients a diagnosis within 28 days of their suspected cancer referral. To help us achieve this, it is vital that you attend all appointments so we can organise the correct appointments.

For some pathways you may be invited to have a diagnostic test before you see a doctor. This provides the doctor with information about health more quickly and means we will be able to diagnose you faster.

Patient demand for our services is high so please let us know in advance if you can no longer attend your appointment. On average, we waste 20 urgent appointments each week because patients do not cancel in advance; this represents about seven hours of a doctor's time.

• If the appointment you would like to cancel/reschedule is your first appointment please contact the Cancer Referrals Office on 020 8510 5099
• If you would like to cancel/reschedule a follow up appointment please contact the Central Bookings Team on 020 8510 5544. (Make sure you tell them you need to be seen urgently so they reschedule your appointment appropriately.)
• If you would like to reschedule a diagnostic appointment (e.g. X-Ray, Colonoscopy) please contact the department directly.

If you are not able to attend for more than 3 weeks or you do not attend several appointments without advance notice, we may need to discharge you to your GP. We would welcome your re-referral at a time when you are able to attend in future.

Please find patient Information about the Urgent Suspected Cancer Pathway.

Overview

The palliative care team provides specialist palliative and end of life care to any adult patient living with serious or life-limiting illness (this includes patients with cancer and non-cancer diagnoses) and offers support to families and carers. We manage complex symptoms such as pain, nausea, breathing difficulties, and fatigue among others. We recognise that the spiritual, emotional, psychological, and practical worries can be as important as the physical problems, and we provide support with these aspects of care.

Palliative care can help in all stages of the illness, but it is particularly important to consider when curative treatment is no longer an option as it may help patients to live longer and more comfortably. It can be provided alongside medical care and other therapeutic treatments earlier in the stage of illness to achieve the best possible quality of life. For patients reaching the end of life, our aim is ensure that they die comfortably, with dignity, and with respect to their wishes and preferences.

Our service

Our team consists of medical consultants, nurse consultant, team leader, clinical nurse specialists, social worker, clinical psychologists, and an end of life care facilitator. We are an advisory service and we cover all areas of the hospital, and Mary Seacole Nursing Home. All patients we see remain under the care of their referring clinical team. We work closely with other health and social care professionals including GPs, community nurses, hospital doctors, and other local hospitals and hospices to support our patients and those important to them.