This leaflet is designed to give you information

about the medical team responsible for your

treatment. We hope it will answer some of the
questions that you or those who care for you
may have at this time. It is not meant to replace
discussion between you and your doctor, but to
act as a guide to accompany what is discussed.

What is the Multidisciplinary

Team (MDT) and what do
they do?
Following your recent diagnosis of a
haematological disorder, you will receive
support and treatment from the Haematology
team.

The team consists of doctors, nurses and other

professionals who work together to provide
a total package of care that is appropriate
for you. You will not personally meet all
the members of this team, but they hold a
weekly meeting where all the new patients
are discussed with a view to deciding on the
appropriate treatment plan for each individual.
Once a decision is made at the MDT, you will
be informed of it at your next clinic visit and
whether you will require treatment. During this
visit you will have the opportunity to discuss
the benefits and risks of your treatment options
with your consultant and the medical team.
Your GP will be sent a summary of your agreed
treatment plan 24 hours after you are informed.
If you would like
a copy of this please let your doctor know.
Sometimes the MDT will recommend that
further staging tests (e.g. scans or x-rays) are
needed before a full diagnosis or treatment
plan can be offered. Occasionally, due to the
need for more urgent treatment, we may begin
your treatment before the team meeting.

This decision will be based on treatment

priorities and will be made by your consultant
(always after discussion with one other team
consultant).
Princess Alexandra and North Middlesex
Hospitals share a weekly MDT meeting to
discuss all their new patients.
All MDT members will work together to ensure
that treatment is started as soon as possible;
currently the government guidelines state
treatment to be commenced 31 days from
diagnosis for most cases. During holiday periods
(Christmas, Easter) steps will be taken to
minimise any delay.
The majority of patients brought to MDT by
Princess Alexandra will end up having treatment
there. Some patients may be treated at North
Middlesex if radiotherapy is required.
More complex cases which will be a small
minority, may be referred to a Tertiary Care
Centre such as Addenbrookes. This centre
provides very specialist care with a full team of
support staff. You will be given contact names
and numbers when and if you are referred
to them. Many people will be returned to
Princess Alexandra Hospital for check-ups and
management of any complications following
treatment at these centres.

Who are the MDT members?

The team consists of:
Consultant Haematologists
Doctors who specialise in treating problems of
the blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes.

Consultant Oncologist
Doctors who specialise in the treatment of
cancer.
Consultant Histopathologists
Doctors who specialise in examining tissues
under a microscope to assist diagnosis.
Consultant Radiologists
Doctors who interpret x-rays and scans to aid
diagnosis.
Multidisciplinary meeting co-ordinator
Someone who co-ordinates and administrates
the weekly MDT meeting.
Haematology Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS)
Nurses who specialise in caring for patients
with diseases of the blood, bone marrow and
Lymph nodes.
Research Nurse
Nurse who provides information and support
for patients who are taking part in clinical
trials.

The members of the MDT who

you may come into contact with:
Haematology Consultants
Dr F Al-Refaie
Dr K Zegocki
Oncologist
Dr S Davies
Haematology Doctors
Dr F Rezk (Associate specialist)
Dr K Majadob (Speciality doctor)
Dr K Abu-Tayyem (Speciality doctor)

Little
Parndon

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You can contact us about accessibility by

telephoning 01279 827211.

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HARLOW

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Princess
Alexandra
Hospital

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FOURTH AVENUE

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Any other questions?

You will be given the phone number of the

nurse specialist as a contact for any queries or
problems.

Meeting your needs

We can provide information about our service
in different formats and adapt the ways we
communicate with you depending on your
needs. For example, we can use Braille, large
print or different languages. Please let us know
what your particular needs are and we will do
our best to help.

RB
ER
TS
R

Research Nurse
Jo Kellaway

For more information

More information can be obtained from
www.patient.co.uk

HA

Clinical Nurse Specialist and Keyworker

Dee Gray

Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust,

Hamstel Road, Harlow, Essex CM20 1QX
Telephone: 01279 444455
PI2011006

Information for Patients

Haematology

Multi-disciplinary
Team (MDT)