Haematology in Swindon

If you have a suspected blood disorder or condition, finding an accurate and reliable diagnosis is a priority.

At The Ridgeway Hospital, we have dedicated consultants with a wealth of experience who can see you at your earliest convenience for private consultations, with rapid assessment of your symptoms, saving you the worry of being on an NHS waiting list for months.

Haematology specialists look at any malignancies and benign conditions in the blood, managing blood conditions as well as bone marrow complications.

Potential symptoms include:

• Thrombosis and complications as a result of blood clots
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Swollen lymph glands
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Breathlessness
• Weight loss and night sweats

These symptoms could indicate a number of conditions, such as:

• Anaemia
• Polycythemia (too many blood cells)
• Iron deficiency
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Haemochromatosis (too much iron in the blood)
• Lack of white cells
• Leukaemia (too many white cells)
• Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system)
• Myeloma (type of blood cancer)
• Clotting problems
• Platelet disorders e.g. thrombocythemia (too many platelets) or thrombocytopenia (not enough platelets)

You may have been referred to us from your GP or another speciality, but if you are worried about any of these conditions and feel you have some of the related symptoms, why not book a self-referred consultation with our specialist haematologists?

By seeing you for a consultation without delay, we can help put your mind at ease, with rapid diagnosis and extensive treatment plans to help manage any blood conditions that may become apparent.

With excellent facilities including a full range of diagnostic scans, The Ridgeway Hospital offers patients in Swindon, Marlborough, Cirencester, Devizes and further afield the necessary diagnosis and treatment promptly, saving you any unnecessary anxiety.

If a malignancy (cancer) is diagnosed, a personalised cancer plan will be drawn up by a multi-disciplinary team, focused on finding you the best treatment and management for your exact condition and prognosis.

Chemotherapy is one of the common forms of treatment, and The Ridgeway Hospital offers excellent facilities via our dedicated chemotherapy unit (the Webster Suite), with nurses specifically trained to assist you during treatment. You’ll also see the benefits of an electronic prescribing system for chemotherapy, keeping your treatment efficient and streamlined.

Radiotherapy is offered at other sites within Swindon, and can be arranged through your consultant.

The Webster Suite can also offer venesection (bloodletting/withdrawal of blood) for patients with too much iron in their blood (haemochromatosis), and this works in a similar way to donating blood.

Vitamin and iron deficiencies can be dealt with promptly, either with oral supplements, or iron administered intravenously with an iron infusion. In some cases, a blood transfusion may be more appropriate, and your consultant can advise if this is the case.

Patients with either too many platelets (thrombocythemia) or not enough platelets (thrombocytopenia) can be treated at Ridgeway with medication or a blood transfusion, depending on the diagnosis.

If you are experiencing clotting problems, you can be prescribed anti-coagulation therapies, typically in the form of oral medication. As well as treating existing blood clots, these therapies can help to prevent them in the future.

Your initial consultation at The Ridgeway Hospital will begin with your consultant asking for a detailed medical history, getting to know you and the symptoms you’ve been facing. They may ask you questions such as:

• What symptoms have you been experiencing?
• How long have you had these symptoms?
• Have you had any other medical conditions recently?
• Are you currently taking any medication?

This will be followed by a physical examination, where your consultant may feel your lymph nodes, depending on your symptoms.

A range of routine tests can be organised locally. For example, blood tests can be arranged and sent away to our on-site laboratory. Routine x-rays, CT and MRI scans can be done in our Imaging department, alongside ultrasounds, which may be used to investigate a number of concerns, such as:

• Organ enlargement
• Lymph node enlargement
• Visible lesions
• Bone lesions
• Tumours

Sometimes a biopsy (small tissue sample) is needed, especially when lymph glands present as enlarged or abnormal, and this can be done locally and then sent to the lab for analysis.

If necessary, further complex tests can be arranged at other partnered sites, with your consultant overseeing the proceedings, giving you access to the very latest tests and technologies. Results are normally available promptly, so you and your consultant won’t have to wait long for a full diagnosis.

Once this diagnosis is confirmed, your consultant can present you with your evidence-based treatment plan, and this is a good time to raise any questions you may have.

All options will be explained clearly and concisely to you, allowing you to make an informed decision on how you would like to proceed.

Whether it be to the Webster Suite for chemotherapy or to our on-site pharmacy to pick up a prescription, your consultant will signpost you to the relevant treatment to get started as soon as possible.

Choosing to have your haematology care at The Ridgeway Hospital comes with a host of benefits, such as:

• Assessments ASAP – 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 – 96.4% of patients in 2020 said they would happily recommend The Ridgeway Hospital to friends and family in an independent report, and we’re confident that you’ll agree. 96.3% also said that the quality of care here at The Ridgeway Hospital was either ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’. We aim to make your stay with us as comfortable as possible, and these results highlight our continued efforts to ensure this is achieved.
• Consultant Availability – Many blood conditions need swift treatment, so you’ll appreciate the ease of access to our consultants. If your treatment needs reviewing at short notice, or you have a sudden change in symptoms, you won’t have to wait unnecessarily for specialist care.
• Personalised Care – We believe in a bespoke approach to treatment, tailoring each experience to our patients’ needs and whatever may be best for you. This is regularly reviewed, ensuring you get the necessary treatment at every stage of your patient journey.
• A Multidisciplinary Approach – Our teams at The Ridgeway Hospitalwork in tandem with each other to provide you with the best possible care from start to finish. Working closely with colleagues in oncology, alongside specialist radiographers, anaesthetists, and nurses, your consultants have access to a wide network for complex issues, ensuring you have expert support every step of the way during your treatment.
• Convenient Appointments – With appointments available at dedicated but flexible clinics throughout the week, you are sure to find an appointment slot that suits your needs and availability.

If symptoms of anaemia or fatigue have been concerning you, why not book a consultation with one of our haematologists today? Our consultants can outline all treatment options for you promptly, arranging any necessary diagnostic scans, treatment and surgery if required.

For peace of mind and expert care, please contact The Ridgeway Hospital to book an appointment now.