Notice to patients registered with the National Coagulation Centre - March 12, 2020
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
o Do not come to your appointment at the warfarin clinic
o Phone the warfarin clinic (01 4284403) and you will get advice regarding warfarin dosing
The following arrangements apply until further notice
Out-patient clinics:
Many people attend the NCC out-patient clinic for routine monitoring visits, often on a yearly basis. Until further notice, 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:
The H&H assessment unit has moved to the NCC location from 12th March 2020
Non-urgent attendances for treatment are deferred until further notice.
People who need urgent care can contact the NCC on the usual number 4162141/2142 and we will give you an appointment time to attend.
People who have an appointment in the next week for treatment before a planned procedure, which is going ahead, can attend the NCC 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 clinics are proceeding as planned.
DOAC clinics are suspended for the moment, until further notice. If patients who are on DOACs and have any concerns regarding their treatment, can contact the Anticoagulation clinic on the numbers given below or can contact their GP.
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 Contact numbers
NCC Opening Hours 08.30 -17.00, Monday to Friday
Ph: 01 410 3129 / 410 3130 / 416 2141
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.
Out of Hours Service: after 17.00 or at Weekends and Bank Holidays
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
