DIRECTORATE OF OUTPATIENTS SERVICES

  CHEMOTHERAPY SERVICES POLICY DOCUMENT

 1)    The designated location for the administration of outpatient intravenous chemotherapy for the Basildon & Thurrock NHS Trust is the Haematology Day Unit which is located on Mary Seacole Ward.                                                                                                                                    

2)    In exceptional circumstances,  intravenous chemotherapy may be administered outside of Mary Seacole ward (where for instance it would be detrimental to the health of the patient to be moved).  

3) Chemotherapy should wherever possible be administered during normal working hours – when a full compliment of  trained staff are available for support.  In an clinical emergency – or where required by the approved chemotherapy regime - chemotherapy may be administered outside of routine working hours – but in this case, it must be authorised directly by the consultant concerned and the consultant must be satisfied that suitably trained and experienced staff are available to administer the drugs safely and deal with any potential complications.

3) All intravenous chemotherapy must be administered according to the procedures laid down in the Guidelines for the Safe Handling of Cytotoxic Drugs (B&TGH) enclosed herein.

4) Patient information and chemotherapy:  All patients receiving chemotherapy from the haematology day unit will receive full verbal and written information regarding the risks, benefits and possible complications of chemotherapy drugs and protocols – ( for instance as as provided by the BACUP organisation).

5) GP information and chemotherapy:  All GP’s  to be notified of their patients undergoing chemotherapy and what complications may supervene.  Information on specific drugs (as for the BACUP information sheets) together with management advice for complications (which may arise out of routine working hours) must be included.

6)   Patients undergoing chemotherapy for the first time must be fully informed of the risks and benefits.  Informed consent is essential (unless the patient is deemed incapable of self consent).   It is acceptable to have the patient’s verbal consent, but this must be recorded in the patient record and obtained by a doctor or nurse practitioner experienced in the administration of chemotherapy. 

7) Other treatments, including blood transfusion, administration of other intravenous therapies, management of Hickman Lines; procedures such as bone marrow aspiration and biopsy; venesection may be carried out in the haematology Day Unit, Mary Seacole Ward, but preferably should not be undertaken simultaneously whilst other patients are receiving intravenous chemotherapy.

8)   The designated location for the administration of intrathecal chemotherapy is located in the clinic room of the haematology day unit on Mary Seaecole ward.  No intravenous chemotherapy should be administered in this room and the enclosed policy for the safe administration of intrathecal chemotherapy must be followed.

9) The Haematology Day unit, Mary Seacole ward, contains policy documents and equipment for the management of emergencies including anaphylaxis, extravasation,  spillage of  cytotoxics and cardiac arrest.

10) The Haematology Day unit, Mary Seacole ward, contains a separate area for the storage and organisation of chemotherapy.

Signed:   ……………………………………….               Date:…………………..

                                    Dr M Catterall,

                              Clinical Director, Out Patients Services.

Signed:   ……………………………………….               Date:…………………..

                                    Dr P Cervi,

                              Lead Clinician Chemotherapy Services.