Arrow House

Arrow House provides a "home away from home" for patients and their families

Arrow House is located behind the Hospital at 14 and 16 Leichhardt Street. It provides a "home away from home" for patients and their families undergoing treatment for leukaemia and other related diseases. These terraces provide a base for patients and their families who have to travel from remote country areas in order to undergo life-saving procedures, which often require weeks of treatment.

When you come into hospital you will meet with a Social Worker from the Department of Haematology who will discuss the options that are available to you for accommodation. If you have any enquiries please call us on (02) 8382 2698.

 

 

Arrow House - a major milestone

In the past, with its emphasis on research, the Foundation provided accommodation assistance to patients and their families on an "as needs" basis. It also provided white goods and items of furniture for the existing St Vincent's accommodation from time to time.

The Foundation has always been aware how vital it was to a patient's recovery to have the support of a family member close by. The journey to recovery is nigh on impossible without this support. Illness throws everyday life into chaos - employment is interrupted and all too quickly a shortfall in funds can mean that accommodation costs near the hospital are unaffordable.

In 2003-2004 the Foundation, together with the support of the Hawkesbury Canoe Classic Association and the family and friends of Katherine Robertson, was able to refurbish two previously run down terrace properties. The two terraces in Leichhardt Street have been completely renovated and furnished. They provide patients and their family carers, who are mainly from country areas, with accommodation close to the hospital whilst the patients undergo life saving procedures. The terraces offer a pleasant and comfortable environment which is also conducive to the development of peer support amongst the patients and their carers. The first patients and carers moved in during May 2004.

Her Excellency the Governor of NSW, Professor Marie Bashir AO officially opened Arrow House on Wednesday 16th February 2005.

Travel Assistance and Financial Support for Patients

On a case-by-case basis Arrow may support patients with financial and travel assistance. The type of aid varies from patient to patient and may include assistance in the form of those set out below:

• A Russian woman now residing in Australia required a bone marrow transplant. It was determined that the only suitable donor was her sister who lived in Russia. The family was unable to afford the cost of the donor's travel to Australia, so Arrow paid to have her sister flown to Australia, covered her accommodation during the transplant procedure and paid for her flight home again.
• A young mother of two underwent a transplant in Sydney and was released back to Gunnedah hospital following treatment. She subsequently developed complications and required special bedding and equipment whilst she awaited a double lung transplant. Arrow funded her equipment requirements.
• A patient from country NSW underwent a transplant in Sydney. The patient was subsequently released to his local hospital but was required to attend follow up appointments in Sydney on a fortnightly basis. The patient was eligible for IPTAAS payments to assist with the cost of flights but found there was a deficit which he could not meet. Arrow paid the deficit for both he and his carer to attend their appointments for a period of six months.

Requests for financial and travel assistance are made via the patient's Social Worker who can contact Arrow to obtain an application form.

Patient Information Sessions

In 2003 St. Vincent's Hospital Haematology Department launched the bone marrow transplant Patient Information Sessions. These were designed to give patients and families an opportunity to hear an overview of the transplant process and to view both the outpatient clinic and the transplant ward. The sessions are currently run on a quarterly basis.

The sessions are presented by transplant nurses, a social worker and one of the transplant doctors. Patients and carers are given the opportunity to ask questions of the presenters.

The Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation sponsors the sessions and can provide assistance with travel costs to and from the session if required.

These sessions have received excellent feedback and patients considering a transplant are encouraged to attend with their carers.

For more information contact Arrow on 02 8382 2698 or info@arrow.org.au.

 

The Tracey Scone Wig Library

Cancer patients experiencing hair loss through chemotherapy can borrow a wig from the Foundation's Tracey Scone Wig Library. This service is available for all cancer patients and is completely free of charge.

The Library has a large variety of colours, lengths and styles for patients to choose from and wigs are available for the duration of treatment or until your hair grows back.

For further information or to make an appointment, please phone the office on 02 8382 2698.

 

 

Patients should also be aware of : Look Good...Feel Better A national community service programme for cancer patients

 

Look Good...Feel Better was introduced in Australia in May 1990 with the first workshops being held at Westmead Hospital and then St. Vincent's Hospital in Sydney. Look Good...Feel Better is a free national community service programme dedicated to teaching women cancer patients - through hands on experience - techniques to help restore their appearance, self image and confidence as they undergo treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiation. It is a non-medical and neutral programme founded and developed by the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association of Australia (CTFAA) through its registered charity the Cancer Patients Foundation Limited.

 

For further details about Look Good...Feel Better - see contact numbers below.

National Program Manager
PO BOX 4184
Bay Village NSW 2261
Phone: (02) 4334-6445
Fax: (02) 4334-5881
Web: www.lgfb.org.au

NSW State Manager
PO Box 1406
North Sydney NSW 2059
Phone: (02) 9659-8559
Fax: (02) 9899-9843
Web: www.lgfb.org.au

Equipment for Patients

Arrow considers requests for grants for the purchase of medical equipment that directly benefits patients undergoing bone marrow transplant.

Arrow recently agreed to purchase two PUVA wands to allow treatment of graft-versus-host disease of the mouth in patients who live in outer metropolitan or rural areas.

Arrow also granted funds for a Cobe Spectra apheresis machine ($60,000) for the collection of peripheral blood stem cells.

Patient chairs and ward furniture have also been provided as part of Arrow's patient support program.