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What is Ambulatory Chemotherapy?

Our Ambulatory Chemotherapy (AC) service allows you to have your treatment, without needing to stay in hospital overnight.

Your chemotherapy and/or fluids will be started in hospital, then continue in portable pumps (called CADD pumps) which you will carry in a specially designed backpack. This will allow you to leave the hospital in between visits.

You will return daily to see the hospital team, have tests carried out as needed e.g. bloods and any changes to your CADD pump.

The length of this visit will depend on the treatment you are receiving. For some patients this may be a full day, whereas for others this will only be a short visit e.g. for an hour or two. Before starting treatment, we will provide you with an individualised timetable. This will include the expected start and finish times for each day.

During your AC treatment, you will continue to have full access to the hospital and all the members of the hospital team. However, we hope that staying at home or in nearby accommodation will offer you more comfort and freedom between your hospital visits.

In order to have AC treatment, you must:

• Be having a treatment which we can give as part of our AC service (unfortunately we cannot offer this for every treatment just yet).
• Be able to take medicines by mouth, nasogastric (NG) or gastrostomy tube.
• Not have any other medical problems which means you need to stay in hospital for your treatment.
• Live less than one hours travel time of Ä¢¹½tvÊÓƵ Children’s Hospital or be able to stay in nearby apartments organised by the AC team.
• Be contactable via telephone 24 hours a day.
• Have a caregiver available 24 hours a day who can bring you to hospital whenever needed.

Where will I stay during my AC treatment?

Home

If you live within one hours travel time to Ä¢¹½tvÊÓƵ Children’s Hospital, you will be able to stay at home.

Accommodation

If you live more than one hours travel time to Ä¢¹½tvÊÓƵ Children’s Hospital, you will be able to stay in accommodation organised and paid for by our AC Team.

We will do our absolute best to arrange an apartment that suits your individual family’s needs. A member of our AC team will provide you with more information about the accommodation and options available.

What happens during AC treatment?

Pre-Assessment

Around two days before you start AC treatment, you will have a Pre-Assessment appointment. This visit allows you the chance to ensure you fully understand how AC treatment is given and what to do if you have any concerns or become unwell.

We will give you information about the CADD pump, your medicines, as well as talk to you about any monitoring we would like you to complete at home. This is an opportunity for you to ask any questions and make sure you are happy with the arrangements.

During your Pre-Assessment, you will also have blood tests to make sure you are ok to go ahead with your treatment.

Receiving ambulatory chemotherapy

Once you start AC you will need to come to the hospital daily. All your appointments will be arranged in advance.

Please let our team know before you attend hospital if you are developing any potentially infective symptoms e.g. cough, runny nose, diarrhoea or vomiting.

A typical appointment will involve a review by your nurse and doctor, as well as blood tests and changes to your CADD pump.

Please bring all your medicines and paperwork with you e.g. fluid balance and urine monitoring charts so we can review these together.

Whilst you are at the hospital, you will also have the opportunity to see other members of the hospital team who are supporting you, such as your nurse specialist, physiotherapist or dietician.

What happens out of hours (overnight and at weekends)?

Our AC team typically work Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm. Out of these hours, for example; overnight and at weekends, our AC team will hand over all your information to the ward team.

If you need to be reviewed, speak to anyone for any advice or support, a member of the nursing and medical team will be available.

What if I become unwell during my treatment?

It is essential that you speak to a nurse or doctor if you develop any new symptoms or become unwell during your AC treatment.

Whilst receiving AC, all your care should take place in Ä¢¹½tvÊÓƵ, rather than at your local hospital.

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