Inpatients

Infection prevention and control

Infection prevention and control is extremely important. Please make sure you use the hand gel facilities on arriving and leaving the ward. There is a dedicated hand wash sink in each room that can be used by staff, patients and visitors. 

If you can, please use this sink to wash your hands before eating any meals or snacks. Please do not use this sink for anything other than hand washing. 

Sometimes your room door might need to stay closed due to certain infections. If that happens, the ward team will explain this to you.

Safe care

When you arrive, the nursing team will complete assessments so they understand the care and support needed to keep you safe while you are in hospital. The nurse will explain this during the admission process. They will explain anything we need to do, based on the outcome of the assessments. They will create care plans to help shape your nursing care.

Please ask about your risk assessment results for falls, pressure area care, nutritional screening and nursing care so you are fully informed and involved in your plan of care.

Falls

The falls risk assessment tells us if you are at an increased risk of falls. The nursing team will talk to you about how to keep you safe while in hospital. For example, appropriate foot wear, a medication review by a pharmacist, or referral to the physiotherapist or occupational therapist.

Nutrition (nourishment from food and drink)

The nutritional screening tool will highlight if you are at increased risk of malnutrition. Staying well nourished is essential in supporting you during your treatment at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.  

The dietitian will work with you to develop a personalised nutrition care plan, taking into account your medical and personal needs. This could include advice on menu choices, prescribed nutritional supplement drinks. In some cases, it may include more specialist methods to obtain your nutrition such as tube feeding.

Pressure area care

If you become really weak and stay in one position most of the time, you may develop changes to your skin caused by pressure. Theses are known as pressure ulcers or ‘bed sores’.

Pressure ulcers can happen by sitting or lying in one position for too long without moving. They can also happen around any medical devices you may be using. You are also more likely to get a pressure sore if you lose weight, become incontinent, or can’t move your body on your own.

Pressure ulcers usually develop on the parts of the body which take your weight and where the bone is close to the surface, like your buttocks, heels or elbows. They can take a long time to heal and can be painful. Sometimes they get infected. It is much better to stop this from happening. 

our nurse will look at your skin to agree a plan of care with you. They may need to ask if they can look at embarrassing body parts of your body, including your bottom. They will ask you to change your position. If you are not able to do this, they will ask carers to help you. This will be planned with you.

Referral to other services

If we think you would benefit from other services, the ward team will refer you to them. For example, if you would benefit from physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy or advice from a dietitian. If you need non-cancer specialist care, we will make referrals to other hospitals so you can get the right support from them.

We have four inpatient wards: Ward 2, Ward 3, Ward 4 and Ward 5. You will be admitted to the right ward for your cancer type and the treatment you need. 

Ward 2 – Level 2

Telephone: 0151 556 5023

Ward 2 has 26 single rooms and specialises in caring for people with solid tumour cancers (i.e. not blood cancers). It has a dedicated facility for inpatient Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) patients.

Patients can be admitted for:

• Planned treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiotherapy 
• Emergency / unplanned care after review in our Clinical Decisions Unit (CDU) due to treatment side-effects, or
• Specialist palliative care and symptom management

Teenage and Young Adult unit

Our Teenage and Young Adult areas are purpose-built for patients aged 16 to 24, offering care in a welcoming and age-appropriate environment alongside peers.

Ward 2 has 4 dedicated inpatient beds designed to provide a warm, comfortable setting during hospital stays. Each room includes ensuite facilities and offers flexibility for a loved one to stay overnight, helping to create a more supportive experience.

Read more about our Teenage and Young Adult facilities, including the daycase unit and social space.

Ward 3 – Level 3

Telephone: 0151 556 5019

Ward 3 has 26 single rooms and specialises in caring for people with solid tumour cancers (i.e. not blood cancers). It is the named ward for patients with head and neck cancer and any patient with an altered airway. Patients can be admitted for: 

• Planned treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiotherapy
• Emergency / unplanned care after review in our Clinical Decisions Unit (CDU) due to treatment side-effects, or
• Specialist palliative care and symptom management

Ward 3 also includes our Early Phase Clinical Trials Unit with dedicated beds for patients with all types of cancer who are being admitted to take part in clinical trials of new treatments that are being used for the first time in humans. These patients are supported by specialist research nurses and their wider care team.

Ward 4 – Level 4

Telephone: 0151 318 8624

Ward 4 has 28 single rooms and specialises in acute haemato-oncology (blood cancer care), treating patients with a wide range of conditions including acute and chronic leukaemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma. It also cares for patients who need admission either before or after having a stem cell transplant or CAR-T therapy. 

Ward 5 – Level 5

Telephone: 0151 318 8631

Ward 5 has 15 single rooms and is our specialist Stem Cell Transplant Unit (also known as bone marrow transplant). It specialises in planned admission for stem cell transplant and CAR-T therapy and support patients following transplant if they required unplanned admission to manage symptoms. 

Because people who have had stem cell transplants are particularly at risk of infection, these rooms have special air filters with more frequent air changes to remove bugs and bacteria. They also have extra infection prevention and control measures to keep patients safe.

We offer a wide selection of food to cater to different tastes and appetites including options for:

• Light appetites
• Soft food / meal replacements
• Vegetarians and vegans
• Different faiths / cultures (e.g. halal)
• Different types of food (e.g. British, Asian, African and Caribbean)

It’s really important that you get all the nourishment you need while in hospital so if you have any special requirements or allergies, just let the ward team know. They will be happy to help and can also arrange a visit from the dietitians or the hostess team if appropriate. 

The wards support protected meal times. This means you should not be disturbed by staff during meal times – this is to allow you the time to eat and drink. Your family and friends are welcome to join you during meals if you wish.

It is also important to drink enough fluids while in hospital. Hot and cold drinks are available any time – you can help yourself from the social space or ask a member of the ward team. 

You will have a fridge in your room to store any drinks you prefer to bring from home. Please do not store any food in your fridge – this is particularly important for people with cancer and those having certain treatments because you may be more at risk of developing stomach bugs.

We also have some catering 24 hours a day so don’t worry if you miss a meal – just speak to the ward team at any time.

When you are ready to leave hospital, our ward team and our Patient Flow team will support your safe discharge. This could be back to your own home or an alternative location based on your ongoing care needs. Please ask to speak to the ward team or Patient Flow nurse if you have any questions about your discharge plans.

When you leave hospital, you will get a text message asking you about your hospital experience - this is called the Friends and Family Test. We welcome your feedback so we can share positive experience or make improvements to the care that we provide. You can also speak to the Ward Manager or Matron at any time during your admission to tell them about your experience or if you have any concerns.

Your ward team will include a wide range of different staff who are expert in different aspects of your care including:

• Matron, ward manager and nursing team
• Doctors and advanced nurse practitioners (ANPs)
• Allied health professionals (radiographers, physiotherapists, dietitians, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists)
• Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
• Ward clerks
•  Housekeepers
• Domestics and ward hostess 
• Porters 
• Ward volunteers

The Blackburne House café on Level M1 of Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool is open from 8:00am to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday. It offers a wide range of healthy food and drinks as well as traditional favourites, cakes and snacks. 

It includes a small shop selling newspapers, magazines and other items. The trolley shop visits each ward every morning.

There are vending machines at the café exit (near PharmaC) that are available 24 hours a day. They offer snacks and drinks.

There is a wider range of shops, cafes and restaurants next door in the Royal Liverpool University Hospital that you may also like to use if you are well enough.

There is a Reflection Room on Level 4 of Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool where patients and visitors can reflect or pray. 

Our Chaplaincy service is also available for people of all faiths and none. They offer support to patients and their families and many people find great comfort in this. If you would like to speak to the Chaplaincy service, just ask a member of the ward team and they can organise a visit.

The hospital has 3 on-site sleeping rooms that patients' relatives can use for limited periods. These rooms are on Level 3 of Clatterbridge Cancer Centre - Liverpool.  

Each room has two single beds / recliners with their own ensuite toilet and hand wash sink. There is also a shared shower and kitchen area. 

These rooms can be used by families during difficult times to provide a private and quiet space close to the wards. Sometimes your relative may want to stay close due to your clinical condition or if they are providing some care for you during your admission. 

Please speak to the nurse in charge if you would like to discuss using these rooms. We cannot guarantee availability. As an alternative, we can provide a recliner chair in a patient's room for a family member to stay overnight. We can also provide advice on local hotels.

Find information about inpatient visiting.