Haematology - What Is Haematology? Clinical haematology joined Cancer Care in the newly opened ‘Wooden Spoon Building’ in January 2001, to form the Cancer Care and Haematology Unit. Haematology, literally the study of the blood, covers the diagnosis and treatment of patients with cancers of the blood such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, using similar treatments and supportive care to those used for treating other cancer patients. It also covers a wide range of other non-malignant problems to do with the blood: clotting and bleeding disorders, the investigation and treatment of anaemias and the management of anticoagulant care. Although clinical haematology grew out of the work of the laboratory and shared cramped premises with it for a long time, over the years the department grew close to the old CCHU and patients received their chemotherapy there. It made sense, as the two departments expanded, to pool resources and join together in the same building. Haematology patients are now cared for alongside cancer patients in the CCHU, mainly in outpatients at the front but also, with other patients receiving chemotherapy, transfusions and other supportive care, in the treatment day unit in the quieter area to the back of the building. The department runs three general adult, one paediatric and three anticoagulant clinics a week. There is close liaison with the diagnostic haematology laboratory across the road which provides on-the-spot blood results for these clinics.

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