New cancer service opens at Cromer

A new service has begun at Cromer and District Hospital to provide further support and care to cancer patients closer to their homes.

A satellite service of the NNUH Acute Oncology and Haematology Service (AOS) has started in Cromer to help patients who are having symptoms or side effects as a result of their cancer or ongoing treatment.

The nurse-led service is currently running three days a week in the Mobile Cancer Care Unit (MCCU) but will run Monday to Friday when the new North Norfolk Macmillan Centre opens.

The service, which is run by advanced nurse practitioners and nurse specialists, can carry out assessments, symptom management and procedures to treat recognised complications from cancer or cancer treatments. They also carry out blood tests, central line flushes, dressings and care of catheters, drains and stomas.
The nursing team said: “We are really pleased to be offering this satellite service to patients closer to their homes in North Norfolk to help them with their symptoms.”
“There is a 24/7 number for patients to call, but we know that for some patients, the Norwich AOS is too far to travel and that some patients may opt to stay at home and suffer with their symptoms. We hope we reach out to more cancer patients in the Cromer area with this service.”
The Cromer AOHS is running 9am to 5pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The MCCU was launched earlier this year in partnership with cancer charity Hope for Tomorrow.
The North Norfolk Macmillan Centre is being built in partnership between Macmillan Cancer Support, the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the N&N Hospitals Charity. The centre will include six chemotherapy treatment chairs with capacity to treat up to 36 patients a day, three new clinic rooms and two new minor procedure rooms, and a Macmillan cancer information and support centre.