The CND project is the largest funded project we have supported to date. Following the success of the LLMF funded project for the Community Phlebotomy Service (see below) it was always hoped to take community care for haematology patients further and the CND project was proposed. During the project phase the clinical team regularly updated LLMF Trustees of their workload and provided feedback from service users. This project made a great difference to the lives of the patients involved. LLMF is proud to have supported this project and acknowledges the benefit of providing individualised care at home for those patients most in need.
The project started in 2015 and ended in March 2019, when having proven to be successful was fully integrated with services provided by the Haematology Dept. The vision was to offer patients the opportunity to have their non-complex chemotherapy treatment administered at home by a specialist nurse. The nurses made community visits to the more frail and immobile patients who were unable to attend formal OPD clinics. During these visits they were able to assess the holistic needs of the patient and speak with family members on their preferred option of how to manage their haematological condition without the often challenging experience of attending the hospital. Additionally, telephone support was given to patients on a day to day basis as required.
At the time the team currently managed in excess of 600 haematology patients in their telephone clinics. These telephone clinics provided a consistent approach to reviewing an individual’s needs, with easy access to the outpatient clinic as required. This service helped reduce hospital appointments for the patients and therefore assisted in addressing any capacity challenges within the Haematology outpatient service. Unfortunately, due to COVID, community visits had to stop and the staff moved back to the hospital setting. However, the telephone support aspect continues to this day and is valued by its recipients and staff alike.
Outstanding aid was received from local fund-raisers and donors towards the £250,000 cost of this project. There was also a generous grant of £25,000 from The Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund.
