Talking About My Work as a Consultant Hematologist

1 What I Do: My Role as a Consultant Hematologist

I am a consultant hematologist. This means I am a specialist doctor. I work with patients who have blood disorders. A blood disorder is a problem with the blood.

I work in a hospital and in a clinic. Every day, I see many patients. I examine them and I diagnose their problems. To diagnose means to find out what is wrong. Then I treat them. This means I help them get better.

I look at blood tests and other test results. I check if the results are normal or abnormal. Normal means everything is okay. Abnormal means there is a problem. I discuss the results with my patients. I explain what they mean. I advise my patients about their health.

2 Common Blood Disorders I See

I see many different blood disorders. Some are common and some are rare. Common means I see them often. Rare means I don’t see them very often.

Anemia is very common. Patients with anemia feel very tired. They look pale. Their blood does not have enough red cells. I prescribe medication to help them. Sometimes they need to eat different food.

Leukemia is a serious blood problem. It is a type of blood cancer. I work with patients who have leukemia. I give them special treatment. This treatment takes a long time.

Some patients have clotting problems. This means their blood does not stop flowing when they get hurt. They bruise easily. They bleed a lot. I help them with medication and advice.

3 My Daily Work: What I Do Every Day

Every morning, I start work in the ward. A ward is a part of the hospital where patients stay. I talk to the nurses and junior doctors. We discuss each case. A case is one patient and their problem.

I review all the new test results. I look at blood tests and other information. I decide what to do next for each patient. Sometimes I need to order more tests. Sometimes I change the medication.

In the afternoon, I work in my clinic. I see patients who have appointments. They come to see me about their symptoms. Symptoms are the problems they feel. I examine them. I look at their test results. I explain everything to them.

I also work in the laboratory sometimes. This is where we do the blood tests. I look at blood samples under a special machine. A sample is a small amount of blood. I check for problems.

I monitor my patients carefully. This means I watch them over time. I see them for follow-up appointments. I check if the treatment is working.

4 Working with Other Doctors and Patients

I don’t work alone. I am part of a team. I work with nurses, junior doctors, and other specialists. We help each other. We support each other. We all care for the patients together.

Sometimes other doctors refer patients to me. This means they send patients to see me. They think the patient has a blood problem. I am the specialist, so I can help.

I also refer patients to other specialists. If a patient has a problem I cannot treat, I send them to another doctor. We all work together to help patients.

I spend a lot of time talking to patients. I explain their blood disorder. I answer their questions. I help them understand their treatment. Some patients are scared. I try to help them feel better. I give them good information.

5 Talking About My Work with Others

When people ask me about my job, I say: ‘I am a consultant hematologist. I help patients with blood problems.’ This is a simple way to describe my work.

I can also say: ‘I diagnose and treat blood disorders. I work in a hospital and a clinic.’ This gives more information.

If someone asks what I do every day, I say: ‘I see patients. I look at blood tests. I prescribe medication. I work with a team of doctors and nurses.’

Sometimes people want to know about the patients I see. I can say: ‘I see patients with anemia, leukemia, and clotting problems. Some problems are mild and some are serious.’