Welcome Letter
WELCOME TO OUR PRACTICE
The first few weeks of shock and uncertainty when cancer or a blood-related disease is diagnosed will be a traumatic experience and, in many ways, can rob you and your family of security as well as peace of mind.
It is our mission to provide the most advanced and comprehensive Haematology service in a compassionate and secure environment.
Dr Pieter de Witt, Dr Hannes Koornhof, Dr Michael Cass and Dr. Simon Brett, your treating Haematologists, are assisted by a team of competent nurses and staff to ensure that you will receive the correct treatment as prescribed.
We base all interactions with our patients and our Haemalife team members on our values:
- Trust
- Respect
- Integrity
- Passion
- Care
- Excellence
Our practice is run by a dynamic team. For any questions and concerns regarding appointments, contact our vibrant and compassionate Receptionist and Bookings Coordinator.
Practice Telephone Number: 021 900 6277
- Receptionist reception@haemalife.co.za
- Bookings Coordinator bookings@haemalife.co.za
Medical treatment forms only a part of your journey at Haemalife. We recognise that, when cancer or a blood related disease is diagnosed, the whole family is affected by the experience. At Haemalife we have a holistic approach to treating our patients. We acknowledge and include the importance of body, mind and soul. To help you eliminate or deal with the uncertainty, please make use of the support services provided by our team.
When diagnosed with cancer, the shock and disbelief affects every aspect of your life. Assistance is available to all our patients and their families to help you cope with stress, anxiety and various other aspects experienced during the various phases of your illness. These stressors include the impact on your self-esteem, relationships, family life, work, friendships and attitude towards life. We offer support in the following ways:
- Emotional support along the treatment journey for patients and their family members;
- Linking with community resources, including accommodation for patients from far;
- Special counselling sessions for our patients’ children and grandchildren to assist and prepare them in talking about their parents’ or grandparents’ cancer;
- Facilitating disability applications and insurance claims;
- Stress management;
- Discharge planning;
- Crisis management;
- Transplant preparation and counselling;
- Post-transplant preparation and counselling;
- End of treatment counselling;
- Emotional support and guidance;
- Survivorship support counselling;
- End of life counselling;
- Bereavement counselling.
Please feel free to contact our Social Worker, Mariska Gericke, for more information or to set up an appointment.
A high quality diet and maintaining mobility is important in sustaining your strength during the treatment process. We have an inhouse Physiotherapist, Liana Bence, and a Dietician, Stephanie de Vries, who will assist and support you.
- Liana Bence: Physiotherapist
- Tel: 082 386 1013
- Email: bencephysio@gmail.com
- Stephanie de Vries: Dietician
- Tel: 082 323 1596
- Email: sdevries16@gmail.co.za
A treatment plan for your condition will be submitted to your Medical Aid by your treating doctor. It does, however, remain your responsibility to follow-up with your Medical Aid to ensure timeous authorization of your treatment.
To ensure that financial queries do not become a stressor during your journey, we have constituted a team to assist with all questions you might have. We strongly advise all patients to send all enquiries regarding Netcare Hospital accounts, Pathcare accounts, Radiology accounts, and Blood Services accounts, to the service provider as follows:
- Netcare Kuils River Hospital – Shared Services
-
- Tel: 010 205 6600
- Email: cluster1dssc@netcare.co.za
- Pathcare: Contact Person: Sharon van der Berg
- Tel: 021 596 2144
- Email: Sharon.vderberg@pathcare.co.za
- Bergman, Ross & Partners Radiologist:
- Tel: 021 276 4177
- Email: info@bergmanross.co.za
- Western Cape Blood Services
- Tel: 021 507 6300
- Email: info@wcbs.org.za
Chemotherapy and other treatments are often expensive and because Medical Schemes cannot guarantee full payment, you remain responsible for the settlement of all accounts.
It is important to note that your Medical Aid will sometimes not pay for certain consumables as well as the cost of transporting blood products after hours.
For any other concerns regarding your Haemalife account, please contact:
- Adel – Accounts
- Tel: 021 014 2000
- Email: accounts@haemalife.co.za
We realize that the diagnosis of a blood-related disease or cancer has significant financial impact and that it leads to great anxiety. We will gladly assist you with the completion of any claim forms and/or writing of medical reports.
It is important to note that these forms or reports often take a lot of time to complete, and that either the patient or the insurance company will be responsible for the fees involved. The forms and reports can only be released once proof of payment has been received. For any insurance or claims forms please contact our social worker for assistance:
- Mariska – Social Worker
- Tel: 021 900 6277
- Email: socialwork@haemalife.co.za
Kindly communicate any changes to your contact details and Medical Aid details as soon as possible.
We endeavour to provide you with the basic knowledge and information you will need during your treatment. However, no brochure can meet the needs of every individual, therefore we hope that you will feel free to discuss any problems and/or needs with us.
You and your family’s peace of mind during the treatment is important to us. If any questions, side effects or problems arise that have not been covered in the information provided, please contact us to assist you.