Velindre Cancer Centre has a long history of providing ambulatory care services in both a scheduled and unscheduled way. We provide these interventions as part of the overall oncology and Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) service.
The Patient Support Unit (PSU) was opened in 2019. Its main purpose is to deliver multi-disciplinary support and interventions to patients with head and neck cancer who are undergoing intensive treatment with chemo-radiotherapy. The unit aims to avoid admission to hospital where possible and to reduce length of stay for patients who are admitted to hospital. We also aim to ensure that patients don’t become immobile during their SACT and radiotherapy treatments.
In line with other services and with health policy, we’ve seen a steady growth in the need for ambulatory care. Following our successful Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) Ambulatory Care bid to Welsh Government in November 2021, funding has been secured to further formalise and expand our services.
Ambulatory care (ACU) is now provided on the Chemotherapy Inpatient Unit (CIU) area and combines the PSU and ambulatory clinical space. Our ambulatory services work together as one service, which is called the ‘Ambulatory Care Unit.’ The unit works to prevent inpatient admissions and to support patients holistically, so they can continue to receive their treatment as planned and without interruption. The Ambulatory Care Unit also works alongside our Acute Oncology Assessment unit. This unit provides rapid assessment, investigation, and treatment of patients with urgent oncological conditions or associated medical conditions.
Unit Lead Nurses:
Sister Alice Groves
Sister Sophie Tipping
Ward Manager:
Sister Rhian Hathaway
Senior Nurse:
Matthew Walters
Ambulatory Care Unit: Open Monday to Friday 7.30am-8pm.
Weekend: Open Sunday 9am-5pm. (Hours will extend to a Saturday as per service need.)