Barts and The London HPB Centre | For patients
For patients
What to expect
Referral and first appointments
Once you have been referred to the Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic (HPB) Centre by either your GP or hospital doctor, you will be seen by one of our consultants in clinic. We have dedicated clinics for suspected cancer patients who will be seen within one week of us receiving the referral. Each new patient in the cancer clinic is seen by a consultant and receives a counselling session, first by the consultant and then by the nurse specialist who will maintain regular contact with each patient.
Scans and tests
Your scans and tests will be arranged for the same day as your visit to clinic, wherever possible, especially for patients who have to travel a long distance. Patients who require cancer operations are given a date for surgery within two to three weeks of us receiving all the test results and completing investigations. Surgery dates will be discussed with you and will be booked into the diary. There is no waiting list for cancer surgery.
Operations
If you are due to have an operation for cancer, this will be booked for you within two to three weeks of your diagnosis and the decision to operate. Your surgery will take place in one of the operating theatres at The Royal London Hospital. To prevent you having to stay unnecessarily in hospital, if appropriate, you will be asked to come into hospital on the morning of your planned surgery.
After your operation, you will recover on the ward or in our High Dependency Unit, which provides specialised equipment and care for patients recovering from serious operations.
Information materials for patients
We use a range of patient information leaflets to explain different procedures and treatments, giving patients details of what to expect before, during and after their treatment.
Follow-up care
If you are referred to the centre from another hospital, we are able to share your follow-up care with your local hospital. This allows you to continue to receive specialist care closer to home. Depending on the treatment, some patients will be required to travel back to the centre for occasional follow-up appointments to check on progress.
