24 hour Cancer Care Emergency Line – 02392 286000 extension 3316
The Acute Oncology Service (AOS) is here to support people with cancer if they become unwell and need urgent care in hospital. The team includes cancer specialists and nurses who work with hospital staff to quickly assess your needs, manage any complications from cancer or treatment, and guide the best next steps in your care. This helps make sure you get safe, timely and personalised support during an emergency or unexpected hospital visit.
How to contact the Acute Oncology Service:
- Call: the main switchboard number for Queen Alexandra Hospital: 02392 286000.
- Dial: the extension: 3316 to be connected to the Acute Oncology Service.
When to call the Acute Oncology Service:
- You should call this service if you are an oncology patient needing urgent advice or assessment for complications of your cancer or its treatment, such as side effects from chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
- This is a 24-hour urgent advice line and not a walk-in service, so you must call first.
Feeling unwell?
If you are having treatment and expereincing any of the following take the appropriate action below
CALL 999
- Chest pain
- Difficulty breathing
Call 02392 286000 extension 3316 immediately
- Feeling generally unwell
- Shivery episodes or flu-like symptoms
- Temperature 37.5°C or above, or 35.9°C or below.
- Vomiting (more than 3 times a day)
- Diarrhoea (more than 3 times a day)
- Bleeding
- Swollen or painful legs
- New or worsening shortness of breath
- Sore mouth, stopping you from eating and drinking
Call 02392 286000 extension 3316 within 24 hours
- Sore mouth but can still eat and drink
- Itchy or painful skin changes
- Sore, watery eyes
- Increase in pain
- Constipation
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Diarrhoea (two to four times a day)
Call 02392 286000 extension 3316 within 48 hours
- Tiredness
- Skin changes that are not itchy or painful
- Mood changes
- Difficulty in coping with the treatment
- Loss of appetite