The carer of the patient must be with the patient for most of the day during the treatment period and be willing to help the nurse with the treatment if required. The cleanliness of the home environment is important as a dirty environment may result in increased risk of infection when the patient is neutropenic. The removal of house plants and pets is also important for similar reasons. Access to phone and electricity is essential, as well as available transport 24 hours a day. All patients are given information about the fresh food diet.
Geographical access is important.
The maximum travelling time to Royal Perth Hospital may be no greater than 45 minutes to permit urgent admission to hospital in the unlikely event this should be necessary. Patients who are not receiving chemotherapy are seen by the nurse in the hospital setting and assessed on compliance of care at home and location. Once patients are deemed suitable for home care, the date for the first visit by the nurse is arranged. The Procedure Patients having their transplant at home are seen by the home care nurse every day for up to 4 weeks during their transplant unless they are admitted to hospital due to complications. This first week of the transplant period is when the chemotherapy is administered.