About this service

Colchester Hospital

How to get here

View hospital directions

Clinics

Location

Clinics and treatments are carried out at several locations in the hospital:

  • main outpatients department
  • the Collingwood Centre (Formerly Mary Barron and Haematology)
    Contact the Collingwood Centre on 01206 746 220
    Collingwood Centre Accessibility information from AccessAble
  • the breast unit in Gainsborough wing
  • the Turner Centre
  • the Constable unit
  • the radiotherapy department
  • mobile chemotherapy unit

Staying in hospital

Ward information

Cancer patients who need to stay in hospital are cared for on West Bergholt Ward

Ipswich Hospital

How to get here

View hospital directions

Clinics

Location

The cancer centre is the Woolverstone Wing, entrance 15

Tests, treatments and clinics are carried out here and in other areas of the hospital – please check the information you have been given.

Staying in hospital

Ward information

Cancer patients who need to stay in hospital are cared for on Somersham ward.

Aldeburgh Hospital

Staff from Ipswich Hospital hold chemotherapy clinics here.

How to get here

View hospital directions

Clacton Hospital

Staff from Colchester Hospital hold chemotherapy clinics in the Jubilee Unit.

How to get here

View hospital directions

Felixstowe Hospital

Staff from Ipswich Hospital hold chemotherapy clinics here.

How to get here

View hospital directions

In the community

Clinics are held once a week in:

  • Stowmarket
  • Hadleigh

The mobile chemotherapy unit operates from Tuesday to Friday and spends one day each in:

  • Halstead
  • Tiptree
  • Stanway
  • Clacton

Cancer

 

Cancer is a condition where cells in a specific part of the body grow and reproduce uncontrollably. The cancerous cells can invade and destroy surrounding healthy tissue, including organs.

One in two people will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime. There are more than 200 different types of cancer, and each is diagnosed and treated in a particular way.

Further information about the signs and symptoms of cancer, reducing cancer risk and treatment can be found on the NHS website cancer pages.

 

GP referral for a suspected cancer

Once your GP has referred you to us, we will contact you with an appointment (usually by telephone).  This appointment will be a maximum of 14 days from your referral.

It is important that you are available to attend your appointment and we recommend that you bring a friend or family member with you.

You are likely to be sent for tests and investigations.  These may be at Colchester or Ipswich hospitals. Sometimes it may seem that you have a lot of appointments and tests in a short timescale.  This is because it is very important that we diagnose and treat your cancer as quickly as possible. Please make every effort to attend.

 

National standards

There are national standards for cancer waiting times:

  • First appointment with a specialist within a maximum of 2 weeks.
  • A maximum of 31 days for treatment to begin once a decision to treat has been made.
  • No longer than 62 days overall from your GP referral to your first treatment.

You can find out more information about the NHS’s cancer targets on the nhs.uk website

 

Treatments

There are many different types of cancer, each with its own treatment or treatments.  Depending on the type of cancer you have, there might be more than one way to treat you.

You will be supported through your journey by specialist nurses with great experience and knowledge of your cancer type and the treatment you are having.

 

Blue badges for parking

If you require any information about getting a Blue Badge for parking, please visit Suffolk County Council website or Essex County Council website, or contact:

Blue Badge team helpline: 08088 004 005 (option 2)

John Le Vay Cancer Support and Information Centre: 01473 715 748

Cancer Wellbeing Centre at Colchester Hospital: 01206 745 347

 

 

 

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