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Ambulatory Oncology Care Unit (AOCU)

Ambulatory Oncology Care Unit

  • Open 08:00 – 18:00 Mon-Fri, 09:00-17:00 Saturday. Referrals accepted until 15:00 for same day review. If patients are well enough, they are seen the following day.
  • Nurse led team, with oncology registrar and consultant support
  • Located on Gordon Smith, 3rd floor Lanesborough Wing
  • Access via nurse led telephone triage.

Eligible patients:

Unplanned/same day review:

  • Well enough to attend AOCU on foot (i.e. mobile)
  • Suffering mild complications such as sore mouth, lethargy
  • Minor-moderate nausea and/or vomiting
  • Cough
  • Treatment related rash
  • Constipation/change in bowel habit but no diarrhoea
  • Pain
  • Indwelling line problems.
  • Suspected DVTs (but no breathlessness).
  • Worsening of pre-existing breathlessness but non acute onset

Planned review:

  • Patients who called the oncology hotline overnight and were considered stable enough to be reviewed the following day,
  • Pre/post contrast CT scan IV hydration, planned liver biopsy or pleurex drain requiring monitoring,
  • Patients recently discharged from hospital, requiring a follow-up review as OP (no capacity in Oncology clinic)

Non-eligible patients:

  • Symptoms of chest pain, severe breathlessness, bleeding, severe nausea/vomiting, diarrhoea, low white cell count, suspected neutropenic sepsis (all would be referred to ED).

AOCU contact details

For referrals to AOCU by hospital staff, please contact the team as follows:

  • Monday – Friday, 08:00-18:00; Saturday 09:00-17:00 bleep 8235 or call x5483.
  • Sunday via Oncology hotline 0783114653
  • Outside of office hours: email AOCU@stgeorges.nhs.uk – a member of the AOCU team will respond when back in the office.

AOCU pathway