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Help your newly diagnosed patients and their carers access trusted information and support by joining the referral service.

It's a simple referral process that connects patients and carers to information and services that complement your care. Learn how it works and how to get started.

Key information about the referral service

Who can be referred to Blood Cancer UK?

  • Adults (18+) newly diagnosed with any type of blood cancer
  • Carers or family members can also be referred

Who can refer patients or carers to Blood Cancer UK?

Any member of the healthcare team involved in the care of blood cancer patients.

How long does it take to refer to Blood Cancer UK?

Healthcare professionals have told us that the online referral form takes approximately 3 minutes to complete.

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Join referral service

Why it matters

Many people affected by blood cancer struggle to find support following a diagnosis:

  • 58% are unaware of the support available to them
  • 47% do not feel part of a supportive community

By referring patients to Blood Cancer UK you can ensure they receive ongoing support, information and guidance from a trusted source.

A referral to Blood Cancer UK removes the stress of searching for information and support and instead delivers this directly, providing a lifeline for patients beyond their nursing care

- Zoe Kelsall, Lymphoma Advanced Nurse, Royal Stoke University Hospital

Benefits for your patients

Referring your patients and their carers to Blood Cancer UK:

  • Reduces overwhelm at diagnosis by removing the burden to find support on their own.
  • Gives them accurate information to better understand their diagnosis, treatment and what to expect.
  • Provides access to blood cancer nurses via phone, email and digital channels, with interpreter services in more than 170 languages.
  • Connects them to other people affected by blood cancer - through a moderated online community, volunteering opportunities and events - reducing feelings of isolation.
  • Offers the chance to speak with clinical trial nurses to learn about trials and explore their options.

Benefits for your team

Referring to Blood Cancer UK:

  • Gives you reassurance that patients and carers are getting information and support they need from a trusted source.
  • Helps patients feel more informed and able to make better use of clinic time.
  • Supports people's ability to cope and self-manage.
  • Reduces pressure to keep up-to-date with different services.

Healthcare professionals experience

Watch the video below of healthcare professionals talking about their experience of a referral to Blood Cancer UK.

What patients receive

Once you refer a patient, they will receive a confirmation email from us. After that, they will get a total of 7 emails, once a week covering helpful topics such as:

  • understanding a blood cancer diagnosis
  • benefits, money worries and rights at work
  • coping with treatment, managing side effects, and preventing infections
  • support and resources for family and friends
  • personal stories from the community and ways to connect with others facing similar challenges.

These emails will also guide them through our support resources and information on our website.

As well as emails relevant to all types of blood cancer, we have tailored email journeys for carers and for people diagnosed with lymphoma.

For those who are unable to access email

If your patient does not have access to email, or English is not their first language, you can let us know when making the referral. One of our specialist nurses will call them at a time that works best for them. We also offer a telephone interpreter service, providing support in over 170 languages.

How to refer patients and carers to Blood Cancer UK

It’s quick and simple to join the service and start referring patients to Blood Cancer UK. Register your details to get started.

Once you have joined, you can refer patients and their carers in three simple steps:

Step 1

Talk to your patient or their carer about referral and get their verbal consent.

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Step 2

Fill out a short referral form (see the video below).

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Step 3

Your patients or their carer will get weekly emails with information, support, and patient stories. If they don't have digital access or English is not their first language, our nurses will call them instead.

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Referral form video

This video shows the referral form and questions included.

It's the quickest and easiest referral process I've seen

- Service Director for Access & Diagnostic, NHS Lanarkshire

Hospitals that have joined the referral service

Over 25 hospitals across the UK have joined the service to refer patients to Blood Cancer UK. Click on the list below to see the hospitals that have joined.

View hospitals
  • Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
  • Bart’s Health NHS Trust
  • Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust
  • East & North Hertfordshire NHS Trust
  • Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
  • Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
  • Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • London North West University Healthcare Trust
  • Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
  • Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
  • Mid-Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust
  • NHS Lanarkshire via the Macmillan Improving Cancer Journey Service
  • North Bristol NHS Trust
  • North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust
  • Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
  • Nova Healthcare, Leeds
  • Priory Hospital, Birmingham
  • Shrewsbury & Telford NHS Trust
  • South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
  • University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
  • University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust
  • Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
  • Wye Valley NHS Trust

Your hospital is listed, but not referring yet?

If your hosptal is listed, this means a haematology team is already onboarded and the governance approval work has been completed. This means you can join the programme easily and start referring too.

To get started, please contact us at [email protected]. We’re here to support you in getting the programme up and running.

Ready to get started?

Join healthcare professionals across the UK who are using the referral service to ensure patients receive trusted support from diagnosis onwards.

Register interest

Frequently asked questions about referring blood cancer patients

Who can I refer to Blood Cancer UK?

Once you’ve signed up to start making referrals, you can refer the following people:

  • Recently diagnosed patients and their caregivers
  • Over 18s only
  • Any blood cancer diagnosis

If your patient does not have digital access or they need information in a language other than English, let us know when completing the referral form. We’ll call them, using an interpreter if needed.

Can patients self-refer to Blood Cancer UK?

Patients and caregivers can independently access our services and information if they prefer. However, our research with people affected by blood cancer shows that a healthcare professional doing the referral takes the burden off the patient. This is especially helpful for newly diagnosed patients who are likely to be feeling overwhelmed and have a lot of information to take in.

People have told us it can be hard to reach out for support at diagnosis, but they would have welcomed proactive contact from a trusted source. We also want to break down the barriers for those that may welcome support, but would not reach out for other reasons.

Do you have anything I can give to my patients about the referral service?

We have a flyer you can give to patients when discussing referral. When you sign-up we’ll send you some copies, and you can contact us if you need more.

How long does it take to refer people to Blood Cancer UK?

Filling in our short referral form takes less than 3 minutes.

When should I refer patients and carers to Blood Cancer UK?

We are not prescriptive about the timeframe to refer, as we appreciate patients respond differently to their diagnosis and clinics work differently. We would suggest referring as soon after diagnosis as feels appropriate – for example:

  • at the diagnosis appointment
  • during the HNA process
  • during a follow-up call/appointment.
Who in my team can refer blood cancer patients and carers?

Anyone within the Multidisciplinary Team involved in the care of your newly diagnosed patients can refer. We welcome referrals from nurses, consultants, resident doctors, support workers, patient navigators and more.

Do you offer counselling/psychological support for people affected by blood cancer?

We do not offer counselling or psychological support, but our specialist nurses can signpost to local and national services. Patients can also access information on on psychological well-being and links to sources of support on our website.

Further information and support

If you're interested in taking part but have questions about the programme, we're here to help.

Email our Clinical Engagement Team at [email protected] and we’ll be in touch to support you.