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Clinical Haematology | Auckland | Te Toka Tumai

Public Service, Haematology

Description

Our service is part of the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland District Health Board.  Our teams are specialists in providing care in haematology, medical oncology and radiation oncology. We are here to ensure that you get the best care with the best possible outcome for you and your whānau.  This video is here to introduce all of our services to you.

What is Clinical Haematology?
 
Haematology is the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the blood and blood-forming organs. Such disorders may involve the:
  • components of blood (cells and plasma)
  • coagulation (blood clotting) processes
  • bone marrow
  • lymph nodes. 

To help in the diagnosis of blood disorders, you will need to be interviewed and examined by a doctor and then probably need to have blood samples taken for analysis in the laboratory. You may also need to have x-rays, bone marrow samples or tissue biopsy.

These results will be assessed, discussed with you by a specialist, and a treatment plan developed.

Some treatments are administered in the Haematology Department Day Stay or Haemophilia sections. Others are administered by your GP (General Practitioner) and some require admission to the Haematology Ward which is Motutapu Ward on the 11th Floor Support building.

Consultants

  • Dr Leanne Berkahn

    Haematologist (Specialising in lymphoma, malignant haematology)

  • Dr Peter Browett

    Haematologist, Professor of Pathology (Specialising in lymphoma, malignant haematology and bone marrow transplant)

  • Dr Nicole Chien

    Haematologist, specialising in myeloma

  • Dr Richard Doocey

    Haematologist (Specialising in lymphoma, bone marrow transplant and malignant haematology)

  • Dr Nicola Eaddy

    Haematologist, Thrombosis and Haemostasis

  • Dr Caroline Grist

    Malignant Haematologist

  • Dr Timothy Hawkins

    Haematologist (Specialising in lymphoma, bone marrow transplant and malignant haematology)

  • Dr Clinton Lewis

    Haematologist (Specialising in stem cell transplantation, myeloma and malignant haematology)

  • Dr Sze (Henry) Ngu

    General Haematologist

  • Dr Louisa Stone

    General Haematologist

  • Dr Rodger Tiedemann

    Antony and Margaret Morris Fellow in Cancer Research, Associate Professor of Medicine University of Auckland, Consultant Haematologist (specializing in Myeloma)

  • Dr Laura Young

    Haematologist (Specialising in Thrombosis and Haemostasis)

Referral Expectations

Urgent problems are assessed on the same day by a registrar who then discusses them with the consultant.  Initial contact may be by telephone.

Other referrals should be sent through the Central referrals situated at GLCC.

Less urgent problems such as iron overload are seen at outpatients in one to two months.

In between, the more usual referrals such as anaemia, low blood cell counts, lymphoma and clotting problems are seen within one to two weeks.

A consultant reviews all the referrals each day and ensures that the problem is assessed with appropriate speed.

Procedures / Treatments

Bone Marrow Biopsy

Bone Marrow Biopsies are performed to establish a diagnosis of certain blood disorders, or to monitor the course of a disease and the effectiveness of treatment. These are usually done in Haematology Day Stay. Click here for more information on this procedure. Bone Marrow Biopsy (PDF, 66 KB)

Bone Marrow Biopsies are performed to establish a diagnosis of certain blood disorders, or to monitor the course of a disease and the effectiveness of treatment.

These are usually done in Haematology Day Stay. Click here for more information on this procedure.

Blood tests

Blood tests are an important part of monitoring Haematological conditions. They may be done routinely at your local Labtest or in Haematology Day Stay

Blood tests are an important part of monitoring Haematological conditions.  They may be done routinely at your local Labtest or in Haematology Day Stay

Venesections

Haemochromatosis is an inherited disorder where the iron in the food you consume, is absorbed into your body over and above your needs. It is then stored in the organs of the body. Haemochromatosis is caused by an abnormal gene. Click here for more information on Haemochromatosis The most effective treatment for removing the stored iron is to remove about 500mls of blood (venesection) at regular intervals . The frequency of this depends on your ferritin levels and will be decided by your consultant. Haemochromatosis (PDF, 88.3 KB)

Haemochromatosis is an inherited disorder where the iron in the food you consume, is absorbed into your body over and above your needs. It is then stored in the organs of the body. Haemochromatosis is caused by an abnormal gene.  Click here for more information on Haemochromatosis

The most effective treatment for removing the stored iron is to remove about 500mls of blood (venesection) at regular intervals .   The frequency of this depends on your ferritin levels and will be decided by your consultant.

Blood Transfusions

Blood transfusions for people with Haematological conditions are done in Haematology Day Stay. Most people will require 2 units (bags) of blood and each bag takes about 2 hours to infuse. Before a transfusion can take place, a special sample of blood, called a cross Match, needs to be sent to the Auckland City Hospital Blood bank, so that the right blood can be matched for the patient. Cross Matches can be taken at a Diagnostic Medlab and sent to Auckland City Hospital. If you have never received blood before or longer than 3 months previously, there is a 7 day time period that the blood must be transfused in. However if you have had a transfusion within that 3 month period, the transfusion must be completed within 72 hours of the cross match being taken.

Blood transfusions for people with Haematological conditions are done in Haematology Day Stay.

Most people will require 2 units (bags) of blood and each bag takes about 2 hours to infuse.

Before a transfusion can take place, a special sample of blood, called a cross Match, needs to be sent to the Auckland City Hospital Blood bank, so that the right blood can be matched for the patient.  Cross Matches can be taken at a Diagnostic Medlab and sent to Auckland City Hospital.

If you have never received blood before or longer than 3 months previously, there is a 7 day time period that the blood must be transfused in. 

However if you have had a transfusion within that 3 month period, the transfusion must be completed within 72 hours of the cross match being taken.

Chemotherapy

A wide range of Outpatient Chemotherapy is given in Haematology Day Stay and varies from very short injections to all day infusions. Information leaflets are readily available in most courses of chemotherapy and are given to patients when the diagnosis and course of treatment has been confirmed.

A wide range of Outpatient Chemotherapy is given in Haematology Day Stay and varies from very short injections to all day infusions.

Information leaflets are readily available in most courses of chemotherapy and are given to patients when the diagnosis and course of treatment has been confirmed.

Lumbar Puncture

A lumbar puncture (also called a spinal tap) is a procedure to collect and look at the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) surrounding the brain and spinal cord. A thin needle is inserted into the spinal canal At Haematology Day Stay these are done routinely for diagnosis of certain conditions, when a small amount of CSF is removed for analyse in the laboratory. Treatment with Chemotherapy may also be inserted into the spinal fluid for certain conditions.

A lumbar puncture (also called a spinal tap) is a procedure to collect and look at the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) surrounding the brain and spinal cord. A thin needle is inserted into the spinal canal

At Haematology Day Stay these are done routinely for diagnosis of certain conditions, when a small amount of CSF is removed for analyse in the laboratory.

Treatment with Chemotherapy may also be inserted into the spinal fluid for certain conditions.

Visiting Hours

Motutapu Ward: 11am to 8pm

Refreshments

Lunch is provided for Day Stay patients staying over lunchtime. Otherwise, refreshments are available from Muffin Break on the 5th floor, main building.

Travel Directions

Haematology Day Stay, Thrombosis Unit and Haemophilia Centre are in the yellow brick Cancer and Blood Services Centre (click here for map).

Some Haematology Outpatient Clinics are held at Greenlane Clinical Centre.

The Haematology Ward is Motutapu Ward on the 11th floor of the support building.

Parking

There is a parking building on the Grafton Rd border of the Auckland Hospital site.  There are fees payable.

Parking immediately outside the Haematology/Cancer building is very limited. There is a drop off area outside the main door. 

Regular e.g. chemotherapy or transfusion patients should discuss any parking difficulties with our social worker.

At Greenlane (outpatient consultation site), parking is well sign posted from the Greenlane entrance. Again, fees are payable.

Accommodation

Accommodation for people well enough to be outpatients, but needing close hospital attention can be provided at Domain Lodge or other local motel accommodation. This is usually arranged through either Day Stay or Motutapu Ward staff. (The same sites may be used for accommodation of relatives. Please enquire at Motutapu Ward or Haematology Day Stay).

Pharmacy

There are two on site pharmacies.

The general (commercial pharmacy) is on the 5th floor, opposite Muffin Break.

The Hospital Pharmacy (for special hospital only prescriptions) is in the administration block on the 6th floor.

Contact Details

Auckland City Hospital

Central Auckland

(Haematology outpatient clerks)

2 Park Road
Grafton
Auckland 1023

Information about this location

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Get directions

Street Address

2 Park Road
Grafton
Auckland 1023

Postal Address

Private Bag 92 024
Auckland Mail Centre
Auckland 1142

This page was last updated at 11:54AM on June 11, 2024. This information is reviewed and edited by Clinical Haematology | Auckland | Te Toka Tumai.