We want your visit to The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre to be as easy and convenient as possible for you. 

This page has information about the help and facilities available if you need an interpreter, have a disability or have any other additional needs.

Referrers: If you are a health professional referring a patient to us, please tell us in your referral about any additional needs they have. 

Interpreters

Your clinical team will give you lots of information during your care at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. This includes information about your diagnosis, the treatments available and any potential risks or side-effects.

It is important you have the information you need to decide what is right for you – and that you can ask them questions or talk about anything that is worrying you.

If you would like an interpreter at your appointments, we can arrange this. 

Tell the appointment booking team you need an interpreter and which language you use. Use the contact details in your appointment letter or text to let us know so we can book an interpreter for you. 

Additional needs

If you have any additional needs – such as autism, dementia, a learning disability or a physical disability – we will do all we can to make your hospital visit as easy as possible. 

This includes:

  • Providing easy-read information 
  • Providing information in alternative formats 
  • Showing you what to expect when you come for treatment – for example, showing you where you will have treatment and what will happen
  • Longer appointments so there is more time to explain things, answer your questions and talk about
  • Other adaptations to help you access treatment and care

Assistance dogs are welcome on our sites. It is useful if you tell us in advance if you are bringing an assistance dog.

There are a few areas of the hospital where assistance dogs are not allowed because it would not be safe – for example, areas where the dog could be exposed to radiation. Hospital staff will explain any exceptions if you have an assistance dog.

There is a Changing Places facility on Level M2 (ground level) of Clatterbridge Cancer Centre – Liverpool. Ask at the hospital reception desk. Hospital staff will be happy to help if you need it. 

Hearing loops 

Hearing loops are available at our main sites. Ask at our hospital reception desks.

Relay UK 

You can use Relay UK to communicate with us if you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired. You can use it for phone calls to us (including phone appointments with your doctor or clinical team).

You can also use it to contact our free Hotline (0800 169 5555), available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for patients with side-effects or complications due to cancer or cancer treatment. 

For more information:

Visit the Relay UK website for more information or download the app.

Watch this short video to see how Relay UK could work for you:

Sign language 

We can arrange a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter for you. Tell the appointment booking team – using the contact details in your appointment letter or text – if you would like an interpreter.

Wheelchairs are available at the entrances of our main sites. A porter or another member of hospital staff will be happy to help if you need it. 

Our hospitals have wheelchair accessible routes, toilets and café facilities. 

Seating is available on our main corridors.