Specialist Lymphoedema Services

The Lymphoedema Service is committed to providing specialist care to patients who have developed lymphoedema or any other chronic oedema.

Treatment options will be dependant on the clinical need following an assessment

• Decongestive Lymphatic Therapy (Intensive Treatment)
• Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)
• Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (IPC)
• Kinesio tape
• Photo modulation therapy

Walsall Palliative Care Centre (Outpatients Department)
Goscote Lane
Walsall
WS3 1SJ.

Referrals to the service are accepted from any agencies or healthcare professional involved in the patients’ care. Where referrals are not from a health professional, clarification regarding diagnosis/medical condition will be sought prior to a referral acceptance.

It is the aim of the Lymphoedema Service to process all referrals within 24 hours of receiving them within normal working hours. All referrals are individually assessed by a clinician and appointments allocated accordingly.

All patients with a palliative diagnosis will be reviewed on an individualised need.

Referral criteria

The Lymphoedema Service will assess, advise, and implement appropriate care to any patient who has been referred to the service and who has oedema affecting any part of their body.

• The Lymphoedema Service will assess patients with a cancer or non-cancer diagnosis
• The service will only assess patients aged 18 years or older
• The service only accepts referrals for patients who are either registered to a Walsall general practitioner and/or live within the Walsall borough
• Walsall Lymphoedema Service will assess patients at Walsall Palliative Care Centre
• The service will assess, advise, and implement appropriate care to patients receiving care at Goscote Hospice

Non-acceptance of referrals

A referral may not be accepted, or there may be a delayed response, if:

• The patient does not meet the referral criteria stated above
• The patient’s medical condition is contra-indicated for lymphoedema treatment and deemed unsafe or inappropriate
• Insufficient information is received regarding diagnosis
• The patient declines an assessment

If a patient does not meet the referral criteria it will be discussed on an individual basis with the referring agent and, if appropriate, the patient.

Non-attendance

Patients will be discharged following:

• Failure to attend their clinic appointment and not notifying the clinic
• Failure to respond to written correspondence from the service to contact for future appointments within a two-week period

Telephone 01922 602530 or email lymphoedema.team@nhs.net

The service operates Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm (last appointment), and a 24/7 answering machine is available for out of hours enquiries.

British Lymphology Society