Welcome to Chemotherapy Daycare

Chemotherapy Daycare is on the second floor of the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre. The unit has 38 treatment spaces, which include beds, chairs and side rooms. We will let you know where you will have your treatment after we assess you. This will be based on your individual needs.

• Monday to Friday: 8am – 8pm
• Saturday: 8am – 6pm

We offer both morning and afternoon treatment slots.

• Your first treatment will usually be booked in the morning (before 1pm).
• Future treatments that take three hours or less will usually be booked in the afternoon.

Sometimes we may need to move your treatment to another day or time. If this happens, we will contact you to let you know.

At Chemotherapy Daycare, we provide:  

• chemotherapy
• immunotherapy
• monoclonal antibody treatments

Your healthcare team may call these systemic anti-cancer treatments. They will give you detailed information about the type of treatment you will have and answer your questions.

These treatments are available to people with cancer and blood conditions, and patients taking part in clinical trials.

Please watch our Chemotherapy Education videos before starting your treatment. They explain what to expect before, during and after chemotherapy.

These videos are available on our website:
uclh.nhs.uk/chemo

You can watch them at home, or while waiting for your treatment in Chemotherapy Daycare. If you need help accessing or viewing the videos, please ask the receptionist or the nurse in charge.

There are up to 14 chemotherapy nurses and two healthcare assistants in Chemotherapy Daycare. When you arrive, we will tell you who will be caring for you during your treatment. There is always a senior nurse on duty, so if you have any queries or worries, please just let your nurse know.

If getting to the Cancer Centre is difficult, you may be able to use hospital transport. You can contact the transport assessment team to check if you qualify:

Telephone: 020 3456 7010 (8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday).

Once your doctor has agreed your treatment, you will receive a letter or phone call to confirm your appointment in Chemotherapy Daycare. 

• Treatment is given in cycles. Each cycle includes your treatment and then some rest time to allow your body to recover.
• Depending on your treatment, each cycle usually takes 3 or 4 weeks.
• You may need to come to the Cancer Centre more than once during a cycle. We will explain your treatment plan and specific appointment days to you.

Your clinic appointments

During your treatment, you will have regular reviews with your clinical team and a pharmacist. These appointments are an opportunity to check how you’re getting on and discuss any questions.

Tests before your treatment

You will need some routine blood tests before each treatment appointment.

• You can have these tests at the Cancer Centre when you come for your clinic appointment, or a few days before your treatment.
• Some patients need a blood test on the same day as treatment. If this is the case, we will ask you to arrive a little earlier and have your blood test first. This will help to reduce delays in receiving your treatment. Please note: Results take 30 minutes to 2 hours.
• If you have your blood test at a local hospital, please bring a copy of the results with you. If you don’t have them, we may need to repeat the test here.
• You may also need other tests, such as a urine test or an ECG (a test to check your heart rhythm).

• Any medicines you need to take during the day.
• Something to keep you occupied, such as a book, laptop or tablet. Free wi-fi is available – please ask at reception for login details.

Space in Chemotherapy Daycare is limited, so you can bring one visitor with you. Any other visitors will need to wait in the ground floor waiting area.

For health and safety reasons, children are not allowed in the unit at any time. Please arrange childcare before your visit.

Step 1 – Checking in

• When you arrive, please check in with the receptionist.
• The receptionist may also tell you about MyCare UCLH, our online portal where you can view your appointments and medical records. They can help set it up on your phone if you’d like.
• Once you have checked in, please take a seat in the waiting area. The nurse in charge will know that you have arrived and will make sure everything is ready for your treatment.

Please note: The receptionist can only check you in 15 minutes before your appointment time. If you arrive earlier, please wait in the ground floor waiting area.

Step 2 – Preparing your treatment

• A nurse or nursing assistant will check your weight, blood pressure, breathing rate, pulse, oxygen levels and temperature.
• If needed, you may have a cannula (a thin tube) inserted into a vein in your arm. If you already have a PICC line or a portacath, your nurse will check it.
• You will then wait while your treatment is prepared.

Your cancer treatment is made specifically for you and sometimes it can only be prepared once you have arrived. This usually takes at least 90 minutes after it has been authorised. It may take a couple of hours if your treatment is part of a clinical trial.

We always aim to start treatment as close to your appointment time as possible, but delays can happen. This might be because:

• blood test results are still being processed
• there is a delay with authorising your treatment
• you need a doctor review before your treatment can be authorised
• there are staff shortages

Please be patient – we will do our best to keep you updated about any potential delays.

Step 3 – Having your treatment

• The time your treatment takes can vary. Some treatments are quite short, while others may last several hours.
• Your nurse will explain what to expect, and you can ask questions at any time before, during or after your treatment.
• Giving you the treatment safely is our priority.

Drinking water and hot drinks are available throughout the day. If you are having treatment over lunchtime, we provide a meal service. You are also welcome to bring your own food and drink. But please avoid anything containing nuts as they can cause severe allergic reactions in other patients or staff.

Please clear away any rubbish before you leave the unit.

Treatment on bank holidays

Chemotherapy Daycare is open on bank holidays to help reduce waiting times. But there may be some additional delays because of reduced services.

Please note:

• If you are unsure why you are waiting, or your appointment is over 30 minutes late, please speak to the receptionist.
• Some treatments can take longer to prepare than others. This is why you may wait longer than other patients in the waiting area.
• Delays can also happen while we wait for test results, prescriptions or treatments to be made up.

Before you leave, please check that we have booked your next treatment and any other appointments you need.

If you need medicines to take at home, your nurse will give them to you or direct you to Lloyds Pharmacy.

We will also give you a simple chart to help you remember when to take your medicines.

If you are unable to attend, please call 020 3447 3893 and select option 3. Our receptionist will then cancel or reschedule your appointment. It’s important that you call between 8am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Please have your hospital number ready when you contact us.

A nurse is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to give you advice. Please call 020 3447 3893 and select option 6.

If you need to leave a message, please speak slowly and clearly when giving your details.

Do not select option 2, as this is only for general enquiries, appointment changes, or surgery queries. Please follow the instructions carefully and choose the correct option.

You can also contact your CNS for help and advice that is not directly related to your cancer treatment. If you have a paper copy of this page, you can record their details below.

My CNS is called:

Telephone number:
(Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)

The Macmillan Support and Information Service offers advice, support and information to anyone affected by cancer or a blood condition. You can drop in any time between 9am and 4.45pm, Monday to Friday, or call 020 3447 8663.

PALS is a patient-friendly, easy-to-access service designed to provide a personal contact point to assist patients, relatives and carers. If you have a problem that you have not been able to resolve, PALS can help you.

The University College Hospital PALS office is located on the ground floor of the main hospital building and is open from 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.

Telephone: 020 3447 3042

Email: uclh.PALS@nhs.net

Chemotherapy Daycare

University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
Huntley Street, London WC1E 6AG

Telephone: 020 3447 3893

Email: uclh.chemotherapy.daycare@nhs.net