research fellow Romford, England
Job description
Departments of Haematology and Oncology The haematology service is delivered at BHRUT by an innovative, energetic team of 7 Consultant Haematologists (3 full time/ 4 part time), supported by 8 Clinical Nurse Specialists and 4 registrars from the North East London rotation. The haematology team is based at Queens Hospital (QH) and treats a wide range of malignant and general haematological conditions, including level 2B malignant haematology patients (intensive therapy for AML, Primary Cerebral lymphoma and salvage chemotherapy for lymphoma). There is also a large population of patients with red cell disorders and the haemoglobinopathy team provides acute and community services for these patients. The majority of the patients have sickle cell disease but we also care for over 20 transfusion dependent thalassaemia and Diamond Blackfan Anaemia patients and run a red cell apheresis service (emergency and elective).
There are 4 haemoglobinopathy nurses (lead nurse/ 3 nurse specialists covering acute services, apheresis, transition, antenatal screening and community work). We also have a highly specialised psychologist and full time haemoglobinopathy administrator. The anticoagulation service is a well-established unit with strong leadership and extensive local protocols for managing our patients. There are 14 Oncology Consultants who work together to offer a comprehensive range of cancer treatments for adults affected by a wide range of cancer types.
The state -of-the-art Radiotherapy facilities are housed on the Queens Hospital site in the dedicated Oncology & Haematology department. Our modern radiotherapy department has recently completed a refresh program. We have 4 Linear Accelerators, a dedicated CT scanner and Xstrahl superficial unit. We are able to offer SABR, IGRT, VMAT, 4dCT and in 2020 became the 1st UK Centre to offer daily CBCT guided online adaptive radiotherapy.
We also offer a number of clinical trials within radiotherapy and are active members of Varian's Adaptive Intelligence Consortium which allows opportunity for collaboration globally. Tumour-specific multidisciplinary team meetings are held at both King George & Queenss hospital sites. The adult patients with cancer are supported by both clinical nurse specialists & a dedicated Macmillan support team. The Clinical Oncology department oversees four training specialist registrars each year from the North East London Rotation.
The Acute Oncology service (AOS) is a nurse led, doctor supported specialist service to ensure all our cancer patients who are receiving anti-cancer therapies have access to expert advice & assessment should they develop any symptoms from their disease or acute side effects from treatment. The AOS team is a critical safety netting service to ensure the rapid recognition of treatment or disease complications so appropriate & timely interventions can be administered. The AOS team have a vital role in admission avoidance as well as ensuring joined up care for nay cancer patient admitted to BHRUT. The COVID-19 pandemic has of course challenged our services, and this Trust, as it has many others throughout the country.
However our department has continued to offer inpatient and outpatient chemotherapy and support services and haemoglobinopathy care in COVID-secured hospital areas throughout this time. QH hosts all the required services that are expected in a modern and sizeable District General Hospital such as accident and emergency, intensive care and high dependency units, and chronic renal dialysis facilities. Acute dialysis is provided through ITU and there is also a designated neuro-ITU. Full radiology facilities are at hand, including CT and MRI scanning as well as a busy interventional radiology suite.
There is a comprehensive nuclear medicine department and endoscopy/ bronchoscopy facilities. Palliative care is provided by a team of consultants, associate specialists and specialist nurses. They provide around the clock palliative care support. There is a designated microbiology laboratory with direct consultant microbiologist support and a very busy histopathology department diagnosing almost half the cancers treated in the whole of North-East London.
There is a state-of-the-art radiotherapy facility and a fully functioning pharmacy with access to advice from a specialist haematology pharmacist. Our diagnostic radiology department is actively developing with plans to expand into functional imaging. The Haematology/Oncology Ward: Sky B This is a designated haematology/oncology ward with 15 side rooms with bathrooms, with all patients requiring a pre-screened negative SARS-COV2 PCR nose/throat swab before admission, either acutely from elsewhere in the hospital or as an elective admission from the community. Outliers and referrals to haematology are seen across the hospital by a dedicated outliers team comprising a duty consultant and ST3+.
Sky B has a rota shift system with one chemotherapy nurse on duty at all times. Out of hours, the nurses carry a portable phone for patients to ring if they have queries or emergencies with regards to their treatment. The Sunflower Suite (Haematology and Oncology Day Unit) On the QH site there is a designated haematology/oncology day care unit, the Sunflower Suite, where patients receive outpatient systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT), blood product support and undergo procedures such diagnostic bone marrow biopsies and intrathecal chemotherapy. The unit receives and treats acutely unwell cancer patients or sickle cell patients in simple pain crisis through its designated acute beds and isolation room.
The unit also houses a room designated for teenagers and young adults (TYA). Clinical Trials Team Our clinical trials team is ambitious and motivated and hence there is great potential to develop your clinical research interests. A full cancer trials team at QH supports patient recruitment into clinical trials in both malignant and nonmalignant areas. Main Duties of the Post The clinical fellow will spend time in shifts dedicated to the haematology oncology acute inpatient ward, or contributing to the general medical rota, on long days as part of the medical take, evenings and weekends as out of hours cover, according to a centralised rota.
When allocated to the ward, the clinical fellow will form part of the ward-based acute inpatient team, with supervision from the haematology attending and on call consultant, the oncology named consultant for any oncology patient, and the acute oncology service. These duties include the treatment of haematology and oncology emergencies such as neutropenic sepsis and new cancer work-up, and general haematology emergencies such as sickle cell crises. There is close supervision at all times with the ST3+ and Consultants always available, full ward rounds taking place twice a week, and new patients and deteriorating or unwell patients seen by a consultant every day as required. Leave Entitlements Annual Leave.
The postholder will be entitled to 27 days leave pro rata. All leave is subject to approval by the Trainee Lead for department. Study Leave. A maximum of 15 days over a year period is allowable.
However, all study leave is subject to approval by the Trainee Lead. Application for study leave must be submitted at least six weeks prior to the date of course/examination. Teaching The Haematology/Oncology is renowned for the quality and scope of teaching opportunities available, with an outline timetable provided below and many opportunities for additional ad hoc bedside, outpatient clinic and other teaching sessions according to consultant availability. All teaching has a virtual component and many have small group face-to-face components, social distancing permitting.
Oncology to incorporate teaching into calendar. Haematology run a weekly malignant MDT which you can actively participate in and present patients if you wish and provides a good learning opportunity, along with daily clinics which you can be allocated to should staffing levels allow it. There are many oncology MDTs providing similar learning opportunities. Mon ST3+ level (FRCPath) haematology teaching 0800-0900 Cancer Seminar Room 2 Tues Haematology Journal Club 1300-1400 Sky B and MS Teams Weds Thurs FY/IMT level (MRCP) haematology teaching VERT room (radiotherapy) and MS Teams Fri Morphology weekly review 0800-0900 Multiheaded Microscope (Labs) and MS Teams Medical Audit In keeping with recent guidelines the clinical fellow will be expected to participate in the process of medical audit.
