Haematologists diagnose and provide clinical management for disorders of the blood and bone marrow. A doctor specialising in this field is a Consultant Haematologist.
Your heart beats millions of times every year. With each beat, blood is pumped around your body, providing oxygen and essential nutrients to it.
Any type of blood disorder can have a significant impact on your health and quality of life. Indeed, some blood disorders can be life threatening and will need urgent and immediate treatment.
Should you have a suspected blood disorder or condition, it is important to have fast access to an expert for an accurate and reliable assessment and diagnosis.
At The Harbour Hospital, our experienced Consultant Haematologist would be delighted to help you access the support you need without delay. Why not book your private appointment today?
People visit our Consultant for a number of reasons. Some have symptoms that are concerning them, while others have received a diagnosis requiring expert management.
Potential symptoms include:
- Thrombosis and complications from blood clots
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- Swollen lymph glands
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Breathlessness
- Weight loss and night sweats
These symptoms could indicate several conditions, which can best be categorised as follows:
GENERAL HAEMATOLOGY
- Anaemias
- Polycythaemia
- Abnormal blood counts
- Porphyria
- Autoimmune blood diseases
MALIGNANT
- Leukaemia
- Lymphoma
- Myeloma
- Amyloidosis and other paraproteinaemic disorders
- Myeloproliferative and myelodysplastic disorders
CLOTTING
- Abnormal bruising
- Bleeding
- Abnormal clotting (thrombophilia)
You may be referred to us from your GP or a consultant in another speciality, but you can also self-refer to avoid long delays and the uncertainties that can bring with it
By seeing a Consultant Haematologist without delay, an accurate diagnosis can be made sooner. Should treatment be required, they will tailor a plan to best fit your specific requirements.
With excellent facilities, including a full range of diagnostic scans, The Harbour Hospital sees patients from Poole, West Dorset, Essex, and from other countries for assessment, treatment, and management of blood disorders. We look forward to helping you too.
If a malignancy (cancer) is diagnosed, a personalised cancer plan will be drawn up by a multi-disciplinary team. This will be focused on providing you with the best possible treatment and management for your exact condition and prognosis.
With 8 Consultant Oncologists and a dedicated team of cancer specialists working on-site in our Oncology Suite, your Consultant Haematologist can ensure you receive bespoke care, access to the latest treatments, and support that is tailored to your specific needs at every stage.
Chemotherapy is a common form of treatment for many blood disorders, and The Harbour Hospital offers excellent facilities.
While we do not have a radiotherapy provision on-site, your Consultant will liaise with colleagues at other sites to arrange this when needed.
Venesection (bloodletting/withdrawal of blood) is available on-site. Working in a similar way to donating blood, this is used for patients with too much iron in their blood (haemochromatosis).
Vitamin and iron deficiencies can often be managed with oral supplements, or an intravenous iron infusion. In some cases, a blood transfusion may be more appropriate, and this will be arranged for you.
Patients with too many platelets (thrombocythemia) or not enough platelets (thrombocytopenia) may be best treated with medication or a blood transfusion, depending on the diagnosis.
If you are experiencing clotting problems, you may be prescribed anti-coagulation therapies, typically oral medication. In addition to treating any existing blood clots, these can help to prevent you developing them again in the future.
Autologous stem cell transplantation is also available. This involves collecting healthy stem cells (either from the blood or bone marrow) before treatment, then transplanting them back in once treatment has been completed.
Rest assured, whatever your diagnosis and whatever treatment is needed, you will be in extremely good hands when you choose The Harbour Hospital for help with a haematology concern.
When you first visit The Harbour Hospital for your appointment, your Consultant will take a detailed medical history and discuss your symptoms with you in detail.
They may ask you questions such as:
- What symptoms do you have?
- How long have you had these symptoms?
- Have your symptoms been getting worse?
- Have you had any other medical conditions recently?
- Are you currently taking any medication?
This will be followed by a physical examination where appropriate, and your Consultant may feel your lymph nodes to see if they are enlarged or swollen.
A range of routine tests can be easily organised on-site. These may include blood tests and microscopy, X-rays, CT, MRI, and ultrasound scans, all of which are readily available in our new digital Imaging suite.
Some symptoms, such as enlarged or abnormal lymph glands, may require a biopsy (small tissue sample). This will be arranged for you as soon as possible. Bone marrow biopsies and lumbar punctures are also carried out on-site.
If necessary, further complex tests can be arranged at other partnered sites, including Poole Hospital, but your Consultant will continue to oversee each aspect of your assessment and care.
Once a diagnosis has been confirmed, your Consultant will talk things through with you, describing the most appropriate evidence-based treatment plan for you. We will arrange for your treatment to begin as soon as possible.
Choosing to have your haematology care at The Harbour Hospital provides you with:
- Fast Assessments – Certain blood conditions are best diagnosed at the earliest possible stage. If you’ve been experiencing any of the associated symptoms, our haematologists can see you for an assessment without delay, getting you an accurate diagnosis rapidly (with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment) and the necessary treatment before your symptoms progress any further.
- Patient Satisfaction – In an independent survey, 98.6% of our patients said they were likely or highly likely to recommend The Harbour Hospital to their friends and family.
- Consultant Availability – Many blood disorders require swift treatment, so you will appreciate fast, simple access to our Consultant Haematologist. If you have a sudden change in symptoms, or your treatment needs reviewing at short notice, help is available.
- Personalised Care – Treatment will be regularly reviewed and adjusted as needed to always provide you with the most suitable care.
- A Multidisciplinary Approach – Our teams at The Harbour Hospital work closely with one another. Your Consultant works closely with colleagues in other specialities, including oncology, radiology, orthopaedics, and anaesthetics. Fast access to other specialists can be helpful when planning treatment for particularly complex cases.
- A safe environment - With low infection rates and MRSA rates, The Harbour Hospital is a safe place to visit for assessment and treatment.
For a bespoke, personal service, with rapid access and flexible appointments from an experienced Consultant Haematologist, and treatment for almost all haematological disorders, why not book your private appointment now?
We very much look forward to welcoming you to The Harbour Hospital and helping you to access the support you need for any blood, bone marrow or lymphatic concern as soon as possible.
