Contact details

Jane Harding, Macmillan Specialist Lymphoedema Physiotherapist/Service Lead
Margaret Harrison, Macmillan Specialist Lymphoedema Nurse

Address: Fairlawns, 621 Middlewood Road, Sheffield S6 1TT
Tel: 0114 232 0689
Fax: 0114 229 2949
Email: jharding2@nhs.net

Operating hours

Monday - Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm

Service Description

The service is currently situated within Sheffield PCT, with a central base at Fairlawns, 621 Middlewood Road Sheffield S6 1TT. All referrals come to the base clinic and all Decongestive Lymphoedema Therapy (intensive bandaging and lymphatic massage) is managed here.

Domiciliary Visits are undertaken following full consultation with other community staff. This may be for patients with palliative care needs or because patients are unable to travel to the clinic. District Nurses may be asked to attend the visit as their input may be required in the future management of the patient. If this is the case, the Lymphoedema Team will support them in this.
 
Lymphoedema is not considered an emergency as far as physical management of the condition and there is no on-call system. However the service aims to see patients with palliative care needs as soon as possible but within two weeks of referral.

The service provides quality, appropriate, patient focused evidence based lymphoedema information, education and management to all patients who have a Sheffield-based General Practitioner and who are at risk of developing or have developed lymphoedema regardless of cause. Despite displaying the Macmillan name, all patients with lymphoedema/chronic oedema are accepted in this service.

The service also provides the appropriate information, quality education and training to all professionals who have contact with patients who are at risk of developing or have developed lymphoedema. Education days are held at Fairlawns – these are advertised throughout Sheffield and application is through the SYPECC (South Yorkshire Programmes for Education in Cancer Care) based at the Education and Development Department at the Rivermead Training Centre at the Northern General Hospital, contactable on 0114 271 5334

The Community Lymphoedema Service provides assessment, care, treatment and education for patients in their locality, ensuring equity of care and information received. There will be continuity of information and support, not just for patients and carers but for professionals as well, operating within a national Lymphoedema framework.

Referral criteria for lymphoedema service

Referrals to the service are accepted from medical staff, qualified nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists observing the following criteria:

• This service is funded for patients registered with Sheffield GPs, referrals for patients outside this area are accepted but responsibility from their PCT for funding must be sought before treatment commences
• Patients have a diagnosis of cancer related lymphoedema with no immediate contraindications to lymphoedema management ie
  • Suspected recurrent disease prior to confirmation
  • Untreated Heart Failure
  • Hypoproteinaemia
  • Untreated Infection/Cellulitis
  • Untreated Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
  • Hypothyroidism
• Patients have a non-cancer related trunk or limb swelling

If the patient has palliative needs, the service asks that they be informed at referral in order to prioritise treatment. They also ask that where obesity is the cause of lymphoedema, the patient is willing to embark on a weight loss and exercise programme in order for their lymphoedema management programme to be effective.

Referral Process

Professionals can make referrals by letter or by using the service referral form, having considered the above criteria and sent by fax or mail to Macmillan Lymphoedema Service, Fairlawns, 621 Middlewood Road, Sheffield S6 1TT.
Tel: 0114 232 0689  Fax: 0114 229 2949

Staff

Jane Harding, Macmillan Specialist Lymphoedema Physiotherapist/Service Lead
Margaret Harrison, Macmillan Specialist Lymphoedema Nurse
Ann Cousins, Secretary 

The service works closely with the following:

• Community Tissue Viability Service
• Breast care Team Royal Hallamshire Hospital (RHH)
• Gynaecology Team RHH
• Urology Team RHH
• Head and Neck Team RHH
• Weston Park Hospital
• Palliative Care Teams at NGH, RHH, WPH
• St Lukes Hospice
• Sheffield Macmillan Unit, Northern General Hospital
• Sheffield Vascular Institute NGH
• Plastic Surgery Team NGH
• Lymphoedema Services both locally and nationally.

Useful documents:

• Lymphoedema referral form (36kb pdf)