Our award-winning Clatterbridge in the Community service means eligible patients can have cancer drug therapies – known as systemic anti-cancer therapies (SACT) – and other supportive treatments in the comfort of their own homes or at work.
What we do
The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre was the first hospital in the UK to use its own highly-trained nurses to deliver cancer treatments to patients in the community.
As a leading specialist cancer centre, we always strive to provide the best cancer care to the people we serve and are continually looking at how we can improve patient experience to make the journey less stressful.
Clatterbridge in the Community (CiC) is a treatment service that we developed to allow patients to receive a safe and efficient service closer to home.
About the service
The Clatterbridge in the Community team are nurses from The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre who are trained in delivering systemic anti-cancer therapies (SACT) such as immunotherapy and hormone therapies.
They deliver these cancer drug therapies in eligible patients’ homes and workplaces.
It means that people don’t have to go to hospital as often because we bring their treatment to them.
Your doctor or the nurses who currently give you your treatment can explain whether you might be suitable for treatment at home or in your workplace. You can ask them any time including your first appointment and your pre-treatment appointment.
The team cover the whole of Cheshire and Merseyside and some surrounding areas.
The team is based at our Aintree and Wirral sites.
Benefits
- You can have treatment in the comfort of your own home or workplace
- You don’t need to go to hospital as often, saving you time and money
- It is better for the environment as it means fewer journeys to and from hospital
Treatment
We care for patients who are eligible for treatment at home or work and who are on cancer treatments can safely be given outside a hospital. Not all treatments are suitable for this.
Our nurses have the same training and expertise as the nurses who deliver these treatments in our hospitals. We work closely with the rest of your clinical team and will contact them if there are any concerns.
Your treatment will be given in exactly the same way as in a clinical setting - the only difference is that it will be in the comfort of your own home, workplace or another community setting. The service is available during the week with different locations allocated to set days.
Your treatment might be given by:
- Drip – where treatment in a bag is given through a tube into your body, usually into your arm. Sometimes this can take several hours
- Injection – where the treatment is injected straight into your body
- Oral – as a tablet or capsule that you put into your mouth and swallow (oral chemotherapy)
- You will get an appointment for your treatments
- We will either send you a text message reminder 5 days before your appointment or telephone you
- Depending on your treatment, we might phone you the day before your appointment to ask some questions and check you are able to have treatment
- On your treatment day, your nurse will phone you when they are on their way to you
- Your nurse will bring your treatment and any equipment needed with them
- Your nurse will ask you some questions to check you are able to have treatment.
- Once these checks have been completed, your nurse will begin your treatment
- You can ask your nurse any questions you have and talk about anything that is worrying you
- Afterwards, your nurse will make sure you are okay after your treatment
- Then you can get on with the rest of your day
If you tell us you are interested in receiving treatment in your workplace - and you are eligible for this service - we will put steps in place to make this happen. In order to offer treatment in your workplace we need to:
- Obtain permission from your employer
- Arrange a suitable, clean and private location to provide your treatment in your workplace
- Identify a suitable place for the nursing staff to wash their hands
- Ensure access for our nursing staff in your workplace - they will need to be able to park nearby
- Carry out a risk assessment to check for any inappropriate risks to providing your treatment at work
- Confirm there are no particular hazards for visitors at your workplace
If you feel unwell after treatment
If you feel very unwell after your cancer treatment, it is important to tell us straight away. Our specialist Hotline nurses are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 0800 169 5555.
Our team
The Clatterbridge in the Community team works closely with the rest of your clinical team. Our team includes nurses trained in delivering systemic anti-cancer therapies (SACT), pharmacists and administrative staff.
Team roles
Clinical Service Manager – Rachael Gregory
Deputy Manager – Aimee Telford
Senior clinical nurses (SACT trained)
Nurses (SACT trained)
Pharmacists
Administration team
Contacts
Clatterbridge in the Community office:
Call 0151 556 5889, Monday to Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm (08:30-16:30)
Referrals
The following treatments can be given by the Clatterbridge in the Community team:
- Atezolizumab (subcutaneous)
- Atezolizumab
- Avelumab
- Bortezomib
- Daratumumab
- Lanreotide
- Nivolumab
- Octreotide
- Pembrolizumab
- Pertuzumab
- Phesgo
- Rituximab (subcutaneous)
- Traztuzumab
If you are interested in having treatment at home or in your workplace:
- Ask your doctor or the nurse who usually gives you your treatment. They will explain whether your treatment is suitable and can safely be given outside hospital
- If it is, they can refer you to the Clatterbridge in the Community team
Further information
Your cancer treatment in your community - patient information leaflet about our Clatterbridge in the Community service