About our haematology service

The Haematology team cares for a comprehensive range of haematological conditions in adults. Patients with rare inherited bleeding disorders eg haemophilia, and those requiring intensive acute leukaemia chemotherapy and bone marrow/stem cell transplantation are referred to regional tertiary centres.

The department is recognised for its expertise in managing sickle cell disease and thalassaemia. The team offers a full specialist service to patients from a wide geographical area and supports NHS providers in Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and East of England. It is supported by a senior Transfusion Practitioner and a red cell nurse specialist as well as a Clinical Psychologist. Automated red cell exchange is provided on site.

Find out more about our sickle cell and thalassaemia care on our dedicated service page.

Patients with blood cancers are seen in designated clinics for the diagnosis and management of lymphoma and myeloma and myeloid cancers. Patients are supported by two experienced haemato-oncology clinical nurse specialists. In Feb 2020, we were the proud recipient of the Myeloma UK Clinical Service Excellence Programme award, which formally recognises the care provided to patients with myeloma.

Our patients have access to:

  • A Chemotherapy Day Unit on Podium 1, shared with oncology where chemotherapy, venesections, bone marrows and other procedures are undertaken
  • Red Cell Day Unit for haemoglobinopathy patients receiving transfusions and other booked day case procedures, including automated exchange transfusions
  • Sickle Cell Day Unit offering assessment and pain relief for a sub-group of frequently presenting patients with sickle cell disease

The anticoagulation service is nurse lead and provides out-patients clinics Monday to Friday. There are currently six anticoagulation nurses, trained in the initiation of both Warfarin and DOACs and five of whom are nurse prescribers. The anticoagulation lcinic is in Clinic 9 which is located on Level 0, ground floor of the main building - accessible via the main hospital entrance.

Our inpatients are managed by a dedicated inpatient Haematology team, led by a Consultant and with a Haematology Registrar and 2 junior medical trainees.

Laboratory haematology services at NMUH are provided by Health Services Laboratories (HSL), which currently operates a rapid response laboratory (RRL) at North Middlesex Hospital. A 24-hour service is provided for inpatients, with an extended routine day and two on-site biomedical scientists providing routine haematology, coagulation and blood transfusion services. Our haematology team are closely involved in interpreting results and providing clinical input into the laboratory.We offer bone marrow and a full range of blood cancer tests and all our samples are sent to the UCLH specialist integrated haematological malignancy diagnostic service (SIHMDS) for specialist reporting.

Conditions we treat

The Haematology team cares for a comprehensive range of haematological conditions.

  • Red Cell Disorders such as sickle cell disease, thalassaemia
  • Blood cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma (level 2B)
  • Blood clotting disorders including thrombophilia and bleeding disorders (except inherited bleeding disorders)
  • Blood transfusion service and advice
  • Anticoagulation service and advice

How to prepare for your visit

We may carry out a Telephone Consultation in replace of a Face to Face Consultation. This will mean that you would not have to attend the hospital to speak to the doctor.

Please ensure you bring a list of medication you are currently taking with you to your appointment or Telephone Consultation.

We may ask you to attend for blood tests prior to your outpatient appointment, it is important that these are carried out so the Doctor can discuss the results with you.

Patient Covid-19 testing guidance update

Patients attending for chemotherapy, radiotherapy treatment or outpatient appointments are now required to have a negative lateral flow test (LFT) before coming to the hospital. You will no longer need a PCR.

This can be done the day before you are due to come to hospital. If you are receiving a course of chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment, LFTs must be done twice a week.

Please speak to your treating team for more information.

This is to prevent and reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19 to other patients and staff.

Ordering your test

Order your LFTs from the government website which can be found here. Please follow the step-by-step guide to order:

  • Once on the website above, click start now and select England as where you live.
  • After clicking continue, you then select whether you have symptoms of Covid-19 or not and press continue.
  • After clicking continue again on the rules for Covid-19 testing being changed, select the first option ‘You’ve been asked to take a test by a doctor or healthcare professional, or you’re eligible for Covid-19 treatments or you’re being admitted into hospital.'
  • Once selected, then select the second option 'Your doctor or healthcare professional has told you to get a test because you’re being admitted into hospital for a procedure or treatment’ on the next screen and click on continue.
  • On the next screen, type North Middlesex Hospital in the hospital you are being admitted to. You can then follow the suitable instructions when signing in, creating an account or continuing without an account.
  • During this stage, you will at some point enter your delivery address for the tests and they will then be ordered.

If you do not have access to the internet or cannot order your test online, you can order over the phone by calling the Covid-19 helpline on 119.

Testing

Completed test results MUST be uploaded via the Government website which can be found by clicking here. 

After reporting your test results - a step-by-step guide can be found below, the following applies to you. If your LFT is negative, you can attend on your day of treatment and let reception know by showing them your result when you attend.

However, if your LFT is positive, you MUST NOT come to the hospital, and you must contact the relevant team as soon as possible.

Please follow the step-by-step guide to report your LFT results:

  • Go to the Government website as linked above. Click on the start now button to report your LFT result - you will need to sign in or create an account at this stage. Once signed in, answer the following questions as appropriate: 

Step-by-step guide to testing

  • Once the questions have been completed, you should then answer when you took your LFT and on the next screen, input the test strip ID number which can be found at the top of the test (underneath the QR code). You will then need to confirm it again.
  • Then, input your details including your name, date of birth, gender, ethnic group, home address, NHS number, email address and mobile number, and then input your mobile number to receive confirmation of your result.
  • The final step you will have a summary of your answers to review. Once you are happy with it you can click continue. Then click on the result of your LFT, either positive, negative or void and you'll receive confirmation of your results.

Opening times

Outpatient services

Monday – Friday 09:00 – 17:00

Haematology Day Unit

Find out about opening times of our Haematology Day Unit on our sickle cell and thalassaemia service page.

Refer a patient

All GP referrals need to be requested via NHS e-Referral Service (eRS)

Advice and Guidance requests can be sent via NHS e-Referral Service (eRS)

Meet our team

Consultants

  • Dr Sajir Mohamedbhai – consultant haematologist and clinical lead
  • Dr Arne DeKreuk – consultant haematologist
  • Dr Neil Rabin – consultant haematologist
  • Dr Chris Mitchell – consultant haematologist
  • Dr Marilyn Roberts-Harewood – consultant haematologist
  • Dr Sylvia Berney- locum consultant haematologist

Clinical nurse specialists

  • Millicent Blake-McCoy – cancer clinical nurse specialist
  • Barbara von Barsewisch - cancer clinical nurse specialist
  • Liz Odeh – haemoglobinopathy clinical nurse specialist

Transfusion practitioner

  • Karen Madgwick- deputy lead for transfusion