Growth of clinical haematology in South Tees Health District 1983-5.

A review of the workload of two newly appointed clinical haematologists in a health district with a population of 307,000 showed that the clinical case load increased rapidly in the first two years. The management of patients with blood disorders, which had previously been dispersed among many departments both within and outside the district, was now concentrated within a single unit with occasional referral as appropriate to regional centres. The development of a clinical haematology service in district general hospitals cannot occur without funding and facilities, including suitably located beds for haematology patients and specifically appointed junior medical staff. Highly trained and experienced nursing staff are essential for the management of patients with bone marrow failure; day care facilities and community nursing are also valuable. Changes and developments in the laboratory as a result of these additional clinical activities are also necessary.