Patient information leaflets

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Visiting a Patient who has a Radioactive Eye Plaque

Who is this leaflet for?

This leaflet is for visitors to patients undergoing treatment with a radioactive eye plaque.

What is a radioactive eye plaque?

A radioactive eye plaque is small disc stitched onto the eye, which emits radiation to treat tumours.

The patient you are visiting has a radioactive plaque attached to the eye. This is carefully designed to reduce the radiation dose to visitors and staff so that it is safe for you to visit for a short time – up to two hours per day. However, there are a few precautions that we ask you to take to ensure your safety. Most of the radiation dose from the eye plaque is applied to the patient, and a few centimetres away the dose rate is very low. There will be a patch over the eye to shield others from the radiation. The dose rate reduces rapidly as you move away from the patient. From one metre away, the dose you are likely to receive in a 2 hour visit is about the same as you receive every day from natural background radiation living in London, or a tenth of the radiation dose you receive during a flight from London to New York.

It is normal for a patient to have to wear the radioactive plaque for 1-6 days, depending on the dose the consultant has prescribed.

Following these precautions will ensure that the dose you receive is within safe limits:

• Always speak to a nurse on the ward before entering the room

• Ask the nurse to make sure the patient has got the eye patch on before you go in

• Make sure your chair is at least 1 metre away (at least 2 large strides) from the patient. Do not hug them or touch their face

• Children are more sensitive to radiation than adults therefore children (under 18) are not allowed to visit these patients

• Pregnant women should avoid visiting these patients, as the unborn child is more sensitive to radiation Do not visit for a total of more than 2 hours per day
• Once the eye plaque is removed there is no longer any source of radiation.  It does not stay in the patient’s body, so after the plaque has been taken out it is completely safe for anyone to visit and accompany the patient back home.

In special circumstances where it is necessary for the patient to have more assistance than usual, for example if they are disabled, or a young child, then arrangements can be made for longer visiting hours and individual advice will be provided to ensure your safety. We are always happy to provide individual advice for anyone with concern about radiation safety.

Parents of children receiving treatment, including pregnant mothers of children having eye plaque treatment can be provided with individual advice to ensure their safety, taking into account the needs of their child.

For further information please ask the staff on the ward or contact Radiotherapy Physics on:

020 346 55217

020 346 56202

020 346 56200

Radiotherapy Reception:

020 346 55222

Large print and other languages
This information can be made available in alternative formats, such as easy read or large print, and may be available in alternative languages, upon request. For more information, speak to your clinical team.
 

এই তথ্যগুলো সহজে পড়া যায় অথবা বৃহৎ প্রিন্টের মত বিকল্প ফরম্যাটে পাওয়া যাবে, এবং অনুরোধে অন্য ভাষায়ও পাওয়া যেতে পারে। আরো তথ্যের জন্য আপনার ক্লিনিক্যাল টিমের সাথে কথা বলুন।

Na żądanie te informacje mogą zostać udostępnione w innych formatach, takich jak zapis większą czcionką lub łatwą do czytania, a także w innych językach. Aby uzyskać więcej informacji, porozmawiaj ze swoim zespołem specjalistów.

Macluumaadkaan waxaa loo heli karaa qaab kale, sida ugu akhrinta ugu fudud, ama far waa weyn, waxana laga yabaa in lagu heli luuqaado Kale, haddii la codsado. Wixii macluumaad dheeraad ah, kala hadal kooxda xarunta caafimaadka.

Bu bilgi, kolay okunurluk veya büyük baskılar gibi alternatif biçimlerde sunulabilir, ve talep üzerine Alternatif Dillerde sunulabilir. Daha fazla bilgi için klinik ekibinizle irtibata geçin.

یہ معلومات متبادل فارمیٹس میں دستیاب کی جا سکتی ہیں، جیسا کہ پڑھنے میں آسان یا بڑا پرنٹ  اور درخواست پر متبادل زبانوں میں بھی دستیاب ہو سکتی ہیں۔ مزید معلومات کے لیے، اپنی کلینکل ٹیم سے بات کریں'۔

Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

Please contact us if you need general information or advice about Trust services: www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/pals

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Reference: BH/PIN/923

Publication date: Oct 2019

All our patient information leaflets are reviewed every three years.

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