The service is provided by a team of highly qualified and experienced nurses. They have specialist knowledge and skills in the care and support of patients with UGI and HPB cancer. The team support patients who have a suspected or confirmed cancer of the upper digestive system (oesophagus (gullet), stomach, pancreas, bile duct, gallbladder, or liver). Your specialist nurse can also be known as your Key Worker.
How can you contact us?
We are available: Monday to Friday, between 8.30am and 4.30pm
Telephone Number: (0191) 445 8528
Email: [email protected]
On connection, if we are not in the office, please leave a message with your name and telephone number. We will get back to you as soon as possible. We try to do this within 24 hours during the working week.
Please note that this is not an emergency line, if you experience an issue that requires urgent review or care contact your GP, 111 or 999.
How can we help?
Our main role is to support and provide information to patients as well as their families and carers. We often become involved during the investigation stage and at diagnosis. Patients may then be referred to the Newcastle Hospital Trust, support continues during the transfer of care and may also continue via telephone-based support. We work closely with the specialist centres based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (oesophageal and stomach cancers) and Freeman Hospital (pancreatic, gallbladder and primary liver cancer). Our office is based within the Tranwell Unit at the Queen Elizabeth hospital.
The service provides:
- Information about your type of cancer, treatment options, side effects and follow up care.
- Specialist nursing assessment and advice about problems you may be experiencing due to your disease or the treatment.
- Ongoing support, advice, and information, and being available to discuss your care and treatment with you.
- Time to talk through the information you have been given and discuss any concerns.
- Holistic Needs Assessments, including support for you and your family or carers.
- Provide a point of contact when you have questions or concerns between hospital visits.
- Provide information about other organisations that may offer you help and support.
- We support patients both at outpatient clinics and in the ward setting.
The Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT)
The Upper Gastro-Intestinal (UGI) Multi-Disciplinary Team consists of a group of healthcare professionals, including doctors, radiologists, pathologists, oncologists, and clinical nurse specialists. The main function of this team is to make a diagnosis, based on the results of tests and investigations (which may also involve further diagnostic procedures). We will inform you of the outcome of any discussions that the team have about you and your care.
Other useful addresses and points of contact
Gateshead Health Macmillan Cancer Information Hub
Provide practical help and support including claiming for financial help and contacting local Macmillan Nursing team when required.
Monday – Friday
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Northern Cancer Alliance
A website developed to help you during and after cancer treatment, providing practical advice and links to useful resources.
FACT (Fighting all Cancer Together)
Provide cancer support, counselling, social support, kindness kits, fitness, nutrition, complementary therapies and more.
British Liver Trust
Oesophageal Patients’ Association
Maggie's
Provides free expert care and support in centres across the UK and online.
Freeman Hospital,
Melville Grove,
Newcastle
NE7 7NU
Monday – Friday
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Coping with Cancer North East
Coping with Cancer offers services such as complimentary therapies, counselling over the telephone.