There are a variety of minimally invasive image guided techniques we now use to treat cancer or to aid in the treatment of cancer.
Here we place a needle through the skin directly into a tumour using ultrasound or CT to show us where to go. We then deliver extreme heat or cold down the needle to burn the tumour from the inside. We usually treat tumours in the liver, lung or kidney but are advancing to treat tumours in the pancreas and elsewhere in the body. Patients are referred to us by our medical and surgical colleagues. Ablation is usually performed under general anaesthesia but can often be done as a day case procedure to allow quick recovery.
Here we insert a needle through the skin under ultrasound guidance directly into the main vessel which supplies the liver with blood. We then inject glue, beads or tiny metal coils to block off the blood supply to the side of the liver which contains tumour. This causes this side of the liver to shrink and the opposite side to grow which allows surgeons to remove the cancerous side of the liver without putting the patient into liver failure. Patients for this procedure are referred to us by our hepatobiliary surgical colleagues. The procedure can be performed under local anaesthetic but often we keep patients overnight on a ward for close observation and monitoring.
If a tumour is very large or has an extensive blood supply, we can insert a needle into an artery (usually in the groin) and pass a tiny tube (catheter) up through the aorta and into the artery that supplies the tumour with blood. We can then inject glue or tiny beads, particles or tiny metal coils into the arteries supplying the tumour which blocks the blood supply. Due to a lack of blood the tumour shrinks and has less blood in it, making it easier to remove by traditional open surgery. Patients for this procedure are referred to us by various surgical specialties and can be performed under local anaesthetic. Patients usually stay overnight on a ward after the procedure for close observation and monitoring.
This uses the same technique as tumour embolisation but once we get to the artery supplying the tumour we inject tiny plastic beads coated in chemotherapy. The beads get “stuck” in the tumour and slowly deliver chemotherapy directly into the tumour. This reduces the numerous side effects from traditional chemotherapy. Patients for this procedure are referred to us by our gastroenterology or oncology colleagues. The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic and sedation and patients stay overnight on the ward following the procedure for close observation and monitoring.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON BLOOD TESTING DUE TO COVID-19
Shielding Patients in very high risk for COVID Group
All people who have been identified as very high risk (requiring shielding) for COVID are in the process of being contacted by their clinician regarding their ongoing care. If you require a blood test whilst shielding as part of your care, appointment details including when and where your blood test will be carried out will be sent to you via a text message from SwiftQueue who manage our blood test bookings.
If you have regular blood tests and have been asked to have these, please ensure you have blood forms at home available; if you haven’t please contact your specialty to have some sent to you in advance of your blood tests.
Older People and Vulnerable Adults
People who are in the groups identified by the government as higher risk e.g are over 70 or receive a yearly flu jab, but are not in the very high risk (requiring shielding) group, can attend our normal blood test clinics. The blood test clinics and waiting areas have been adapted so that social distancing can be maintained.
Please check the locations on the map below.
Click on the map for information about phlebotomy clinics in Coventry. You can book an appointment online at the locations in red.
Please book an appointment before attending for a blood test. Click on the ‘Book Online’ button above. Booking an appointment helps patients, their carers and family members to plan their hospital visit better, helping to reduce clinic waiting times and enabling patients to be seen much more quickly.
Location: Outpatients Department, on the ground floor. Opening hours: 8am-4.45pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).
Children under 16 years old will need to book online here.
Please book an appointment before attending for a blood test, click on the ‘Book Online’ button above. Patients from Rugby and the surrounding areas are able to access the Friends Blood Taking Unit at the Hospital of St Cross.
Referrals for blood tests can be from GP's, practice nurses or from hospital consultants. Patients are also able to leave other samples, such as urine, which have been collected at home, at the hospital's Pathology Reception.
Location: Near Brookfield House, just off North Road - map here. Opening hours: The blood taking clinic sessions for adults and children are listed below:
Monday -Friday 7am-4:45pm Appointment only
Wednesday Evening 5pm-7pm Suspended due to COVID
Saturday Morning 7am-10pm Suspended due to COVID
April 2020 NEW - This Clinic is now by appointment. Please book an appointment before attending for a blood test. Click on the ‘Book Online’ button above.
Address: Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry CV1 4FS Location: Access is via the main doors, the Phlebotomy team are in Area A. Opening hours: Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). 8am–4.45pm
Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT)
Specialist Tests - There are a small number of specialist tests where blood needs to be taken on a hospital site as the sample must be transferred to the laboratory rapidly for the test to be undertaken. Click here for a list of these specialist tests and to find out more.