Haematology (including oncological disorders)
Outpatients
Information about outpatient clinics for the assessment and management of general haematological disorders including malignant and non-malignant conditions.
The Department will periodically contact patients waiting for an outpatient clinic appointment via SMS, with a link to an electronic form. This is part of routine waitlist auditing to ensure patient details are up to date. If you receive this SMS, please update your details.
Availability
North
Launceston General Hospital
W.P. Holman Clinic - Level 1
Phone: 03 6777 6140
Fax: 03 6331 6371
North West
North West Regional Hospital
North West Regional Cancer Centre
Phone: 03 6493 6058
Fax: 03 6464 1904
Mersey Community Hospital
Mersey Day Oncology and Day Procedure Unit
Phone: 03 6478 5370
Fax: 03 6441 5935
South
Royal Hobart Hospital (Level 1, A Block)
Phone (appointments): 03 6166 6655
Phone (clinic nurses): 03 6166 6637
Fax: 03 6173 0484
Emergency conditions
Emergency conditions/symptoms include (not an exhaustive list):
Any patient with a known or suspected haematological disorder and fever/unwell should be referred directly to the emergency department and discussed with the on-call Haematologist/Registrar.
Also these are considered as emergencies:
- Suspected acute leukaemia (evidenced by blood film report)
- Severe cytopenias if patient is unwell (i.e. infection, symptomatic anaemia, active bleeding):
- Neutrophils under 0.5 x 10^9/L
- Haemoglobin under 80g/L
- Platelets under 20 x 10^9/L
- Superior vena cava obstruction (secondary to lymph node compression)
- Suspected spinal cord compression (pain and neurological symptoms) in a patient with known or suspected multiple myeloma
- Impending pathological fracture (radiologically identified) in a patient with known or suspected multiple myeloma
- Significant hypercalcaemia over2.9 mmol/L
- Rapidly progressive leucocytosis (White cell count over 75 x 10^9/L) in the absence of infection/inflammation where there may be a risk of leucostasis/hyperviscosity.
- Blood film suggestive of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP/HUS)
- Massive thromboembolus
Emergency care
If you, or someone else, are experiencing a serious and life-threatening injury or illness call triple zero (000) immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department.
Learn more about when to access emergency care and non-emergency care options if the injury or illness is not serious or life-threatening.
Scope
General haematological disorders including:
- Lymphomas
- Leukaemias
- Paraproteinaemia
- Multiple myeloma
- Anaemia: for iron deficiency anaemia, see Gastroenterology
- Neutropaenia
- Thrombocytopaenia or other cytopaenias
- Thrombosis
- Haemostasis
- Polycythaemia
- Hyperferritinaemia: for Hyperferritinaemia with abnormal liver function tests, see Gastroenterology
Paediatric malignancies should be referred to Paediatric Oncology
Haematological disorders of adolescence may be seen in this clinic but initial referral is to Paediatrics.
Long term survivors of multimodality cancer treatment with complications from this, or their cancer, may benefit from referral to Oncology Late Effects Clinic.
Referral process
A referral is required for all new appointments and must conform to the Referral Standards as outlined on For Clinicians.
eReferral is now the preferred method of referral for this service and is available in all THS regions. Please refer via HealthLink SmartForm eReferral through your software system (either Best Practice, or Medical Director). For instructions, see Quick Guide: Creating an eReferral.
Specific requirements are detailed in the individual clinic and condition referral guidelines.
Referrals are registered by the clinic to whom they are referred and are triaged according to the specific clinic guidelines.
Clinic Appointments - Appointments are based on clinical priority:
Where available, eReferral via HealthLink smart forms is now the preferred and only secure method of referral to the Tasmanian Department of Health.
Clinic appointments
Urgent (Category 1)
Urgent Referrals generally need to be seen in the next one to two weeks.
Please discuss these with the Haematology Registrar/Haematologist on call via switchboard on 6166 8308.
Semi-urgent (Category 2)
Triaged by medical staff and generally seen in the next six to eight weeks.
Routine (Category 3)
Triaged by medical staff and given the next available appointment.
Additional information
Please also visit the Northern Cancer Service website.