Notice to patients registered with the National Coagulation Centre (NCC)
This notice applies to you if you attend the NCC outpatient clinic, dental clinic, H&H assessment unit, Warfarin or DOAC clinics
The NCC clinical team have been monitoring the evolving situation regarding the novel Coronavirus and are following the guidance of the HSE and the Health Protection and Surveillance Centre.
If you feel unwell with one or more of these symptoms:
Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath
Flu like symptoms
OR
Have been in an area with presumed community transmission of COVID-19
OR
Had contact with a case of COVID-19
OR
Worked in or attended a healthcare facility where patients with COVID-19 were being treated
You should contact your General Practitioner for advice
Do not come to your scheduled appointment at the NCC or HHAU
Phone the NCC and we will re-schedule your appointments
If you are attending the Warfarin clinic and need advice on INR testing and Warfarin dosing
Do not come to your appointment at the warfarin clinic
Phone the warfarin clinic (01 4284403) and you will get advice regarding warfarin dosing
The following arrangements apply for the week commencing Monday 9th March 2020
Out-patient clinics:
Many people attend the NCC out-patient clinic for routine monitoring visits, often on a yearly basis. For the next week, routine clinic consultations will be done by telephone to reduce the number of people who have to attend the NCC and St James’s Hospital in person. Your telephone consultation will be conducted by a member of the medical team.
If on the telephone, it is found that you need to be seen or to have a blood test taken, we will give you an appointment time to attend.
Dental clinic:
The dental clinic will provide an urgent service only - please contact the NCC on the usual number (see below) to speak with a nurse if you have an urgent dental problem.
If your routine dental clinic visit is deferred, we will tell you as soon as possible when we are going to re-schedule your visit.
H&H assessment unit:
Non-urgent attendances for treatment at the H and H Assessment Unit (HHAU) are deferred for the next week.
People who need urgent care can contact the HHAU on the usual number (see below) and we will give you an appointment time to attend.
People who have an appointment in the next week for treatment in the HHAU before a planned procedure, which is going ahead, can attend as planned.
**People who have a scheduled switch to Hemlibra should attend as planned**
If your routine HHAU visit is deferred, we will tell you as soon as possible when we are going to re-schedule your visit.
Clinical trial patients:
People enrolled on clinical trials should attend their scheduled appointments as planned.
Warfarin or DOAC clinics:
The warfarin and DOAC clinics are proceeding as planned.
Accompanying Family members:
If a family member accompanies you to the clinic visit, they will be asked to drop you off and will be phoned when it is time to collect you. We will ask family members not to stay with you unless absolutely necessary.
NCC and HHAU Contact numbers
H&H Assessment Unit: Opening Hours 08.30-17.00, Monday to Friday
Ph: 01 410 3129
Patients who need advice from a nurse, please phone the Assessment Unit directly.
Patients with a bleed who need to speak to a nurse urgently, please contact Switch on 01 410 3000 and ask for pager 721.
H&H Ward Out of Hours Service: after 17.00 or at Weekends and Bank Holidays
Ph: 01 410 3132
Patients who need emergency assessment or advice should phone the H&H Ward prior to attending.
Alternatively contact St James's Hospital via the main switchboard on 01 410 3000 and ask for the Haematology SHO on-call.
Anticoagulation Clinic and Self Testing Monitoring
