Ealing Hospital provides a comprehensive cancer care service with six specialist Macmillan nurses including breast, oncology and specialist palliative care nurses.
The Macmillan nurses support cancer patients through diagnosis, advising on symptom control, liaising with the oncologist, assisting with discharge planning and financial support, providing emotional support to patients and family, and linking with the Meadow House hospice.
Blood and lymph node cancer services
The haematology department treats all common blood and lymph node cancers. Patients are referred by their GP or by other hospital specialists or may be diagnosed following a blood test analysed in our laboratory. Patients may be seen in outpatients or if the need is urgent, on our dedicated day ward.
The haematology day unit team is led by a haematology nurse specialist. Common investigations include the examination of bone marrow, CT scan and nodal biopsies. Most chemotherapy is delivered on the day unit. If admission is required, this will be to the dedicated haematology beds on the adjoining ward.
If a patient requires a bone marrow transplant they will be referred to the Hammersmith Hospital, returning locally for follow-up after the procedure
Breast cancer services
Ealing has a dedicated 'One Stop' new patient clinic led by a female consultant surgeon. The breast unit located within the dedicated women's clinic on level 3 provides a rapid diagnostic service for women referred by their GP with breast symptoms. A mammogram and breast ultrasound scans can be carried out during the first clinic visit and information about results may be discussed the same day. Often a biopsy maybe required and this is also taken on the first visit.
Ealing Hospital new has a new dedicated MRI unit which will provide onsite imaging facilities.
Fortunately most women attending the breast unit can be reassured as soon as possible that they don't have breast cancer. For others it may not be so, a breast nurse specialist is available for advice, support and information about treatments and throughout the recovery process. All breast surgery is performed here at Ealing Hospital.
Colorectal cancer services
The colorectal team consists of two colorectal consultants, Mr Sellu and Mr Chopada, and their teams of junior medical staff.
The teams are supported by a Macmillan oncology nurse specialist (Clare Byrne) and a colorectal nurse specialist (Michelle Sorley). They see patients who are diagnosed with colorectal cancer for support throughout their cancer experience. Michelle and Clare see patients for pre and post operative care, psychological care, assistance with discharge planning and support and information on further treatment post surgery if required. The two specialist nurses will act as a key worker (with the patient's consent). The key worker helps to ensure that throughout the cancer experience the patient has access to advice, information and support.
Patients may be referred directly into the service by their GP or seen as a hospital inpatient. When patients are referred into the service by their GP they will be seen in the outpatient department on level 2.
Following a patient being seen by the colorectal team some of the investigations that may be necessary include:
On completion of these tests if there is a suspicion that the patient has a colorectal cancer or colorectal cancer has been diagnosed then the patient will be discussed at the colorectal multi disciplinary team (MDT) meeting which is held every Thursday morning at Ealing Hospital.
The Colorectal MDT includes:
At the MDT patients tests and investigations are discussed and decisions are made for treatment or need for further investigations. Following the MDT the patient will be informed of test results and their individual treatment plan.
In the case of patients being diagnosed with a colorectal cancer - the main treatment is usually surgery and this takes place here at Ealing Hospital, usually within 1-2 weeks of diagnosis. Post-surgery, patients are also referred to Hammersmith Hospital (cancer centre) to see the oncologist (cancer specialist) where he/she will discuss with the patient the need for any further treatment. Chemotherapy or radiotherapy may be necessary depending on the type and stage of the colorectal cancer.
Some patients may require chemotherapy or radiotherapy prior to having surgery. If this is necessary they will be seen at Hammersmith or Charing Cross Hospital for this treatment.
Gynaecological services
There is a dedicated colposcopy room in the women's clinic on level 3 where the consultant team will see all women with abnormal cervical smears within two weeks of receiving the smear test result. After diagnosis treatment begins within two weeks of the first clinic visit and should surgery be required, a large majority takes place at Hammersmith Hospital.
Advice and information is available from the colposcopy nurse on 020 8967 5556 or the colposcopy co-ordinator on 020 8967 5610. Patients may telephone for test results two weeks after the clinic visit.
There is a designated Macmillan nurse for gynaecological cancer patients.
Lung cancer services
GPs within the borough of Ealing may send their patients for a routine chest x-ray and any x-rays reported as suspicious for cancer will be immediately recalled to the chest clinic. Patients will then be sent an urgent appointment within two weeks of the date of the chest x-ray to be seen in the chest clinic.
Routine investigations include:
Patients who require surgery for lung cancer will be referred to Hammersmith Hospital and chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment will take place at Charing Cross Hospital. There is a designated Macmillan nurse to see patients diagnosed with lung cancer.
Upper gastro-intestinal cancer services (stomach, liver,
pancreas, oesophagus)
The upper gastro-intestinal (GI) team at Ealing Hospital consists of three gastroenterology consultants and a consultant upper GI Surgeon. Each consultant is supported by a team of junior medical staff. The extended team also includes a Macmillan oncology clinical nurse specialist.
A designated Macmillan nurse provides support for all patients and their families who are diagnosed with an upper gastro-intestinal cancer. A clinical nurse specialist acts as a key worker ensuring patients have access to advice and information and a point of contact throughout their cancer experience. This support and information is extended to the patient’s families with the patient's consent.
Patients can be referred into this service by their GP and are first seen in an outpatients clinic. The common investigations undertaken are:
Once there is a suspicion or a diagnosis made of an upper GI cancer the patient’s case is discussed at the upper GI multi disciplinary team meeting (MDT). This meeting is held every Monday (with the exception of bank holidays) at Ealing Hospital.
Patients who need surgery and/or chemotherapy for their cancer will be referred to Charing Cross Hospital. All follow-up outpatients appointments are provided at Ealing Hospital.
Urology cancer services
The urology team at Ealing Hospital consists of two urology consultant surgeons supported by a team of junior medical staff. There is also a macmillan oncology clinical nurse specialist and a urology nurse specialist.
The role of the clinical nurse specialist is to support patients (and their families) who are newly-diagnosed with a urology cancer. The clinical nurse specialist also acts as a keyworker ensuring patients have access to advice and information and is a point of contact throughout their cancer experience. This support and information is extended to the patient’s families with the patient' consent.
Referral to the service is usually through a GP or whilst an inpatient at Ealing hospital.
Some investigation that may be necessary in order to confirm an urology cancer include:
Once there is a suspicion or a diagnosis made of urology cancer the patient’s case is discussed at the urology multi disciplinary team meeting. This meeting is held on a weekly basis every Thursday at Ealing Hospital.
Members of the multi disciplinary team include:
The urology team, together with a radiologist consultant
specialising in reading CTs and x-rays, an oncologist consultant specialising in cancer treatments and a hstopathologist consultant specialising in interpreting biopsy results.
If a urology cancer is diagnosed some investigations may need to be done at another hospital. Staging bone scan, depending on treatment type required, might be carried out at Ealing Hospital. If chemotherapy or radical surgery is required this will be done at Charing Cross or Hammersmith Hospital. All follow-up care will be at Ealing Hospital.
Palliative care
The goal of palliative care is to achieve the best quality of life for patients whose disease is incurable and to support them, their families and carers. The hospital palliative care team (HPCT) provides specialist palliative care in the hospital setting.
The team works in a multidisciplinary way to manage the physical symptoms, and support for psychosocial and spiritual needs, thus enabling the patient to maximise his/her potential to maintain personal choice and preserve dignity.
