Acute Oncology Service (AOS)
The acute oncology service (AOS) is available if you are admitted to hospital as a result of complications related to your cancer or your cancer treatment.
If you are undergoing treatment and feel unwell at home, please contact the chemotherapy hotline immediately on 07917 093 738 or go to your nearest accident and emergency department (A&E).
What we do
We work closely with the ward staff looking after you to:
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Provide advice to doctors and nurses who are not specialists in cancer care.
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Give advice to staff and patients about managing any side effects you may be experiencing from either your cancer or your treatment.
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Advise on appropriate investigations and tests.
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Communicate with and signpost to the appropriate specialist advice and services within the hospital.
Your care team
The acute oncology service is a team of cancer nurse specialists who review patients at The Royal London, Whipps Cross and Newham hospitals.
Acute oncology consultants from Barts Cancer Centre (based at St Bartholomew's Hospital) also visit these hospitals to review patients on a regular basis.
If you are admitted to St Bartholomew's Hospital, you are unlikely to meet the acute oncology team as you will be cared for on a specialist cancer ward.
Our visits
How often you are visited in hospital depends upon your own needs. It will be agreed when you first meet the team.
You may require one visit when you are admitted to hospital, or it may be necessary to see you more often.
Hours of work
We work Mondays to Fridays, 8am-4pm.
We aim to review referrals and see patients who need a visit within 24 hours of referral, or on the next working day.
If you are admitted to hospital as an emergency, please ask the nurse or doctor looking after you to contact us.