About the Appeal
The charitable appeal is named the Red & White Appeal in recognition of the particular significance of red and white blood cells for haematology patients.
Haematology literally means the study of the blood. Haematology patients all have some form of blood disorder.
There are a number of conditions that can affect blood, including:
One in 25 of the population will develop leukaemia, myeloma or lymphoma in their lifetime.
Bone marrow transplantation
Bone marrow or stem cell transplantation has become the treatment of choice for a wide range of haematological disorders.
Undergoing a stem cell transplant can be an intensive and challenging experience, and many people will take up to a year to fully recover from the procedure. The actual procedure can take 4-6 weeks in hospital, with the patient spending this time in a special isolation room in the transplant unit.
Following a transplant, patients need to make regular visits back to the hospital so that the medical team can ensure that the procedure has been successful. Many patients need day case treatments weekly, fortnightly or monthly for a number of years.
The case for change
There is currently no dedicated facility for haematology patients who need day case treatments such as chemotherapy, blood transfusions, platelet transfusions and stem cell collections.
Currently patients who need day case treatments have to go to an area of the hospital which also provides day case treatments for oncology patients.
Due to a significant increase in the number of patients now receiving treatment, the clinics have become very overcrowded. Not only is this stressful for patients and nursing staff, but it would also be far better to keep haematology patients, who have low immune systems and can be prone to infection, away from other patient groups.
The current day case treatment area is also located at the opposite end of the hospital to the haematology inpatient service. Southampton strives to provide continuity of care so that patients come to the same place in the hospital for all of their care, and are able to see the same staff. This is far more reassuring and settling than having to visit different areas of the hospital and see different medical staff for difference aspects of care.
The solution
Stage one of the project, to build an extension to the hospital to house new rooms for haematology patients with double aspect windows and private bathrooms, has been completed. This cost £5million, and has been funded by the Department of Health.
Southampton Hospital Charity aims to raise an additional £1.76million* to complete stage two - to create a specially designed, dedicated unit for haematology patients receiving day case or outpatient care.
This will be built next to the inpatient facilities, and the integrated care will vastly improve the patient experience, creating a calming and more comfortable environment for treatment.
* Stage two was originally costed at £2.2million, but by driving for efficiencies, we have managed to reduce the project cost to a cost of £1.76millon (target revised 5 January 2012). Find out more.|