Information about the Tissue Viability and Lymphoedema/Chronic
Oedema Service
The Tissue Viability Service (TVS) and Lymphoedema and Chronic Oedema Service are
specialist services staffed by a team of specialist nurses.
Tissue Viability: The main aim of the Service is:
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To provide specialist advice and support to health care professionals on the
management of patients with, or who are 'at risk' of developing chronic wounds such
as pressure ulcers.
To advice on patients who have developed leg ulcers and other types of wounds that
are difficult to heal.
To advise on the appropriate use of advanced wound care technologies.
Reduce and prevent secondary care admissions by early intervention and
management of infections.
Lymphoedema Service: The aim of the Lymphoedema Service is:
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To treat patients with Lymphoedema/chronic oedema of any body part
To advise and support health care professionals on the management of patients with
Primary, Secondary Lymphoedema and Chronic Oedema.
To advise on the management of leaking legs (lymphorrhea).
Raising awareness of cellulitis and treatment modalities
Reduce and prevent secondary care admissions by early intervention and
management of cellulitis
Details about the Tissue Viability (TV) service
Provides a service
 For patients who live or have a GP in Islington, Haringey and Camden.
 Who are admitted to Whittington Hospital
Referrals are accepted from:
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District nursing teams
St Pancras Hospital medical and nursing staff
GPs and practice nurses
Nursing home staff
Secondary care medical and nursing staff.
In secondary care from any allied Health Care Professional.
Community:
The tissue viability team will support practice nurses with leg ulcer assessment and will
provide advice on appropriate treatment for the management of patients with leg ulcers that
can be safely implemented by practice nursing colleagues.
General advice may be provided over the phone or for more specific advice a joint visit or
clinic appointment can be arranged.
Pressure ulcers grade 3 & 4 will have first contact within 72 hours.
All other referrals will be prioritised according to clinical need and seen within 6 weeks.
Appropriate Referrals
1. The patient has a wound which shows no signs of healing for 4 weeks after an initial
nursing and medical assessment has been completed and standard care has been
implemented by the team currently managing the patient.
2. Patients who have a Grade 3 Pressure Ulcer and above
3. The healthcare professional and their team have reached the limit of their tissue
viability knowledge; or, the clinicians require advice on future management.
4. Patients who requiring topical negative pressure treatment and hire of a topical
negative therapy pump.
Inappropriate Referrals
 The patient does not meet geographical criteria.
 The patient has been referred for assessment or maintenance of standard care.
 The patient has been referred for standard prevention of leg ulcer recurrence care.
 To cover for the absence of a practice nurse
 The patient has been referred to another specialist, for example: vascular, diabetic
podiatry service or dermatology consultants.
Secondary Care-Whittington hospital
All patients need to be assessed using appropriate documentation prior to referral.
Patients will be seen within 72 hours of referral and prioritised according to clinical need.
All grade 3 &4 pressure ulcers will be seen within 72 hours.
Referring a patient to the TVS:
Haringey referrals
Referrals should be made using the Haringey health care referral form which can be obtained
from haringey.adult-referrals@nhs.net
Send referral to Central Referral Team:
Email: haringey.adult-referrals@nhs.net
Fax:
020 3300 7578
Phone: 020 3074 2306
Islington referrals
Referrals should be made using the Tissue Viability Referral form.
http://www.islington.nhs.uk/tissue-viability-service.htm This form covers all types of wounds
and is not specific to leg ulcers.
.If transport is required the following information must be provided:
Wheelchair user
Escort required
Walker with aids
yes
yes
yes
no
no
no
For any other queries, please contact:
The TVS office:
Administrator: Lucy Khan
River Place Health Centre, Essex Road, London, N1 2DE,
Administrator on whh-tr.tissueviability@nhs.net Tel: 0203 316 8393
Fax: 0203 316 8405
Hours of Operation:
Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm, except Bank Holidays.
Whittington Hospital referrals
jane.preece@nhs.net Tel 0207 288 3369
Hours of Operation:
Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4.30pm, except Bank Holidays.
Details about Lymphoedema/Chronic Oedema Service
Provides a service for patients who live or have a GP in Islington and Haringey patients are
usually seen in clinic .Home visits are available for Islington patients, but we are not
commissioned for home visits in Haringey.
Referrals are accepted from:
 District nursing teams
 GPs and practice nurses
 Nursing home staff
 Secondary care medical and nursing staff.
 Social workers
 Podiatrists
 Physiotherapists and other allied health professionals
Palliative and leaking leg patients are seen within 2 weeks
All other referrals will be prioritised and seen within 6 weeks.
Appropriate Referrals
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Patients who have swelling of any body part for longer than three months.
Patients should be referred as soon as possible if swelling is due to cancer or its
treatment or if patient is palliative.
Patients who have leaking legs (lymphorrhea)
Patients with chronic oedema if underlying condition is stable.
Inappropriate referral
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The patient does not meet geographical criteria.
Patient is accessing another lymphoedema service and does not agree to a transfer
of service.
Patients with wounds or foot ulcers should be referred to the TVS in the first instance
Referring a patient to the Lymphoedema/chronic oedema service
Referrals should be made using the referral form to specialist nurses
http://www.islington.nhs.uk/lymphoedema-and-chronic-oedema.htm and sent to
Administrative Referral Team – Islington (ARTI)
Fax: 0844 7746419
Telephone: 0203 316 1111
Email: arti.centralbooking@nhs.net
For any other queries, please contact:
Administrator – Thursday – Friday day 9am-5pm
or marianne.delon@nhs.net
Tel: 0203 316 8702
Fax: 0203 316 8041
The Lymphoedema office:
River Place Health Centre, Essex Road, London, N1 2DE,
Hours of Operation:
Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm, except Bank Holidays.
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