- Reference Number: HEY980/2025
- Departments: Haematology, Oncology (Cancer Services)
- Last Updated: 31 May 2025
Introduction
This leaflet has been produced to give you general information about the Haematology Multi-disciplinary Team. The multi-disciplinary team (MDT) is a team of healthcare professionals with the necessary skills to diagnose and treat patients with haematological disorders (disorders of the blood and also cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma).
Why does my case need to be discussed at an MDT
Due to the complex nature of many blood disorders, there may be a number of tests needed and treatment options available. More than one specialist is likely to be involved in your care.
It is essential that everyone involved in the assessment and planning of your care can share their expertise and understanding about your case. You may not personally meet all the member of the Multi-disciplinary Team (MDT), but they hold a weekly meeting at which all new patients are discussed. At this meeting the team will consider and discuss the most appropriate investigations and treatment for you.
Who attends an MDT
The MDT includes a number of highly skilled healthcare professionals. It provides a place for all people concerned with your care to come together to talk specifically about your case to determine the treatment options for you and to agree the best course of treatment.
Some of the members of the MDT involved in your care will include:
Haematology Consultants – Doctors who are experts in haematological disorders.
Haematology Malignancy Diagnostic Service in Leeds (HMDS) – A specialised laboratory which examines blood, bone marrow or other biopsy specimens to determine the exact type of the haematological disorder.
Radiologists – Doctors who are expert in looking at x-rays and body scans which can provide important information for diagnosing and treating your disorder.
Clinical Oncologists – Consultants who are experts in radiotherapy.
Haematology Clinical Nurse Specialists – Nurses who are expert in the care, support and clinical management of people with haematological disorders. Nurse specialists also act as advocates for patients within the MDT.
Research Nurses – Nurses who are responsible for providing information to patients about clinical trials, supporting and organising treatment and follow up care whilst on such trials.
The MDT Co-ordinator – A member of the team who co-ordinates the meeting, records the outcomes of the meeting and ensures that the data required by NHS England is collected.
How do I find out the results of the MDT discussion?
The team meet once a week on a Tuesday afternoon. Sometimes the Doctor may arrange for the Clinical Nurse Specialist to contact you by telephone after this meeting. For the majority of patients however, the outcome of this meeting will be discussed with you face to face at your next appointment. Some patients like to bring a friend or relative to this appointment as an “extra pair of ears”.
If you are an inpatient at the Queens Centre at the time of the MDT discussion a doctor or Clinical Nurse Specialist will visit you on the ward to discuss the outcome with you.
Occasionally, people may need to start treatment urgently before their case is discussed at the MDT. This decision will be based on treatment priorities and will be made by at least two consultants from the MDT team. If this happens your case will still be discussed at the next MDT for completeness. If, following the MDT there are any further recommendations or changes to your treatment this will be discussed with you.
Any questions?
If you are worried or have any questions, your team of doctors and nurses (or research nurse if you are on a clinical trial) are there to help. Your haematology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) will act as your key worker throughout your care and will be a point of contact for information, support and advice. Your Key Worker/CNS will also provide a link between yourself and the other MDT members if you have any questions.
Contact details for further information
Haematology Clinical Nurse Specialist Team:
Tel: 01482 461087 (answerphone, if you leave a message please provide your name, telephone number and if possible, NHS or HEY number)
Concerns and queries
If you have any concerns/queries about any of the services offered by the Trust, in the first instance, please speak to the person providing your care.
Alternatively, you can contact – the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on tel: 01482 623065.
You can also email the PALS team on email: pals.mailbox@hey.nhs.uk
General Advice and Consent
Most of your questions should have been answered by this leaflet, but remember that this is only a starting point for discussion with the healthcare team.
Consent to treatment
Before any doctor, nurse or therapist examines or treats you, they must seek your consent or permission. In order to make a decision, you need to have information from health professionals about the treatment or investigation which is being offered to you. You should always ask them more questions if you do not understand or if you want more information.
The information you receive should be about your condition, the alternatives available to you, and whether it carries risks as well as the benefits. What is important is that your consent is genuine or valid. That means:
- you must be able to give your consent
- you must be given enough information to enable you to make a decision
- you must be acting under your own free will and not under the strong influence of another person
Information about you
We collect and use your information to provide you with care and treatment. As part of your care, information about you will be shared between members of a healthcare team, some of whom you may not meet. Your information may also be used to help train staff, to check the quality of our care, to manage and plan the health service, and to help with research. Wherever possible we use anonymous data.
We may pass on relevant information to other health organisations that provide you with care. All information is treated as strictly confidential and is not given to anyone who does not need it. If you have any concerns please ask your doctor, or the person caring for you.
Under the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 we are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any information we hold about you. For further information visit the following page: Confidential Information about You.
If you or your carer needs information about your health and wellbeing and about your care and treatment in a different format, such as large print, braille or audio, due to disability, impairment or sensory loss, please advise a member of staff and this can be arranged.
