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Clinical Haematology

Haematology is the area of medicine focused on the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases related to blood. At the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre, the Department of Clinical Haematology cares for patients with:

 

  • malignant haematological disorders, including cancers of the blood, bone marrow or lymph nodes. The most commonly known of these are various forms of acute and chronic leukaemia, lymphoma (both non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin), myelodysplasia and myeloma

  • non-malignant (benign) blood disorders such as anaemia, blood clots (thrombosis), bleeding and disorders of the bone marrow.

Why do I have an appointment with the Haematology Clinic?

Even though the Haematology Outpatients Clinic is located in the ONJ Centre, many patients seen in the clinic do not have cancer.

There are many possible reasons why you might be referred to see a haematologist. Some of these include:

  • One or more abnormalities in your blood cells
  • Blood tests showing that you may have too much or too little iron in your body
  • An abnormal protein, know as a paraprotein, found in the blood
  • You may be suffering from one or more blood clots, or are considered at high risk of of one
  • You may be bruising or bleeding more than might be expected
  • There is a suspicion that you may have a blood cancer
  • You have a confirmed diagnosis of a blood cancer

You may be referred by your regular doctor, one of your specialists, or if you have an inpatient, by one of the doctors looking after you in hospital.

Where you might receive your haematology treatment

Inpatient

Haematology patients requiring inpatient care will be admitted to Ward 7S of the ONJ Centre. These may be patients who are undergoing intensive chemotherapy for leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma or other haematological malignancies. It also includes patients undergoing an autologous or allogeneic stem cell transplant service. The needs of patients with other benign blood conditions such as clotting or bleeding problems are also managed on this ward.

Outpatient 

General haematology clinics are held in Specialist Clinics on level 3 of the ONJ Centre. Clinics run on a Monday morning, Tuesday afternoon and Friday morning. A specific thrombosis and haemostasis (clotting and bleeding) clinic runs on Tuesday morning. A survivorship clinic for patients recovering from the effects of intense chemotherapy is held on Tuesday afternoon.

Clinical Nurse Consultant contacts

Acute Leukaemia Clinical Nurse Consultant

Vanessa Donati

Phone: (03) 9496 9741
Email: vanessa.donati@austin.org.au

Allograft Clinical Nurse Consultant

Peter Shuttleworth

Phone: (03) 9496 5236
Email: peter.shuttleworth@austin.org.au

Post Allograft Clinical Nurse Consultant

Alicia Orr  

Phone: 03 9496 9736 
Email: alicia.orr@austin.org.au

Autograft Clinical Nurse Consultant

Nectaria Matsamakis

Phone: 03 9496 4617
Email: nectaria.matsamakis@austin.org.au

Lymphoma & CLL Clinical Nurse Consultant

Tania Cushion

Phone: (03) 9496 9735
Email: tania.cushion@austin.org.au

Myeloma Clinical Nurse Consultant

Emily Bramstedt

Phone: 03 9496 9738
Email: emily.bramstedt@austin.org.au

Thrombosis & ITP Clinical Nurse Consultant 

Trish Wise  

Phone: 03 9496 3230
Email: trish.wise@austin.org.au

MPN, MDS & CML Clinical Nurse Consultant

Hanna Chiswell

Phone: 03 9496 9743
Email: hanna.chiswell@austin.org.au

 

For all other general medical matters contact

Haematology Unit Administrator
P.A. to Dr Andrew Lim, Director Clinical Haematology

Phone: 03 9496 5093
Email: haem.admin@austin.org.au

Out of hours

Page the Haematology Registrar via Austin Health switchboard

Phone: 03 9496 5000

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