EXAMPLE LETTER GIVEN TO PATIENTS RECEIVING CHEMOTHERAPY

To Whom It May Concern

RE:

Date of birth:
Hospital number:
Diagnosis:

This patient has been treated with intensive chemotherapy given . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The major side effect of this chemotherapy is severe marrow depression resulting in pancytopenia.  Such patient’s are at significant risk of major sepsis from neutropenia and bleeding from thrombocytopenia and have been asked to present to Casualty Department should they have an elevated temperature or feel unwell.  Access to the Haematology Day Unit on Mary Seacole is limited to normal daytime hours.

Should they present febrile or unwell, they require urgent an urgent septic screen: FBC, U&E, chest X-ray, peripheral blood cultures and immediate admission to hospital for IV antibiotic therapy to commence within 2 hours of presentation as per the neutropenia protocol.

If they should have any bleeding symptoms or if their platelet count is less than 15 x 10⁹/l they will require an urgent platelet transfusion.  Platelets are available through the Blood Bank, Basildon Hospital ext 3535.

The Consultant Haematologist on call must be notified of this admission as soon as possible, urgently if the patient is unwell; they can be contracted through the hospital switchboard.

Yours faithfully

Dr Paul Cervi MRCPI FRCPath                            Dr E J Watts DM FRCP FRCPath

Haematology Consultant                                             Consultant Haematologist

Basildon Hospital                                                         Basildon Hospital