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Lymphoedema

Lymphoedema is a long term condition which affects people of all ages and for a variety of reasons. It is a chronic swelling (oedema) that can affect any part of the body but most commonly affects arms and legs. Please click here to view the Lymphoedema Support Network (LSN) information page 'What is lymphoedema?'  

The lymphoedema service is nurse-led, with assessment and treatments provided on an outpatient basis to both cancer and non-cancer patients. Clinics are held every week day at the Cancer Centre at Royal Stoke University Hospital (RSUH), add also currently 3 days a week at Bradwell Hospital.

Our clinical team members are:

Jenny Neale - Macmillan Lymphoedema Nurse Specialist

Antje Moller - Macmillan Lymphoedema Nurse Specialist

Helen Stone - Lymphoedema Nurse Specialist

Kayleigh Blood - Trainee Lymphoedema Nurse

Jayne Waltho - Lymphoedema Health Care Assistant

Our admin team members are:

Alison Swift, Helen Clarke and Tamsin Wright - Lymphoedema Administrators

Referrals are accepted from any healthcare professional. Consultations are provided for patients with any type of oedema including primary Lymphoedema (genetic/inherited types and lymphovascular malformations), secondary Lymphoedema (including cancer-related lymphoedema), chronic oedema due to venous insufficiency, post thrombotic syndrome, trauma and Lipoedema (a chronic condition causing an abnormal build-up of fat cells, primarily in the hips, thighs, and legs, but sometimes also the arms) 

The Red Legs Service which, also run by the Lymphoedema service, was set up to provide care for patients with bilateral 'red legs', often mistaken for cellulitis. The cause of red legs may be due to a variety of conditions. Referrals will be accepted from any healthcare professional. For any patient with bilateral leg redness, the patient must be systemically well, apyrexial and able to attend an outpatient appointment. Patients with unilateral redness will only be accepted if DVT has been excluded. If you are a patient and think you may have this condition, please contact your GP.

If you are referred to the service you will undergo a full holistic assessment, the initial assessment may be a telephone call or a face-to-face appointment dependent on the reason for referral (to enable us to prioritise patients). We are unable to offer home visits. We will consider your physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs. Following this diagnosis will be made and an individualised treatment plan will be formulated. Information about the condition will be given and you will be able to discuss the diagnosis and its implications to your lifestyle. The aim of the lymphoedema service is to assist patients to manage the oedema and reduce the impact it has on daily life. Self-management is an essential part of Lymphoedema care, and you will be instructed in any relevant techniques necessary. Information will be provided in a variety of formats, including patient information leaflets, booklets, and visual aids such as website links.

Treatment plans may include the following: skin care advice, exercise, (chair based and walking), healthy eating advice, (as weight will impact lymphoedema), compression hosiery, (these can be made to measure or off the shelf) Simple Lymphatic Drainage (SLD), deep oscillation therapy and kinesio taping. You will then be followed up either by telephone or face to face dependent on your individual needs. The aim of the service is to reach a point where you can care for your lymphoedema yourself without the need for further intervention from the clinic.

Occasionally more specialist assessment and management is required. Referrals can also be made to specialist centres. The Royal Derby Hospital has a consultant-led lymphoedema clinic and St George's Hospital in London is a 'centre for excellence', providing advice to other lymphoedema services both nationally and internationally. They also have strong links with the genetic and research departments.

Email: uhns.lymphoedema@nhs.net

Telephone: 01782 676688

The telephone is answered Monday – Friday between 9:00am and 5:00pm. Outside of these hours an answer phone is in operation. If we are unavailable to take your call please leave a message including your name, DOB/NHS number and a brief description of the problem, and your call will be returned as soon as possible.

Please note we are NOT an emergency service. For anything urgent, please contact your GP,111 or attend a local walk-in centre.

If you have any questions regarding your appointment or are unable to attend, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We currently run a clinic located at Bradwell Hospital, on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (based in the Minor treatment room). The parking is free, please allow plenty of time for parking and report to reception on arrival.

We also have a clinic located in the Cancer Centre on the first floor. Please report to Ward 202 reception on your arrival. Please note that we treat cancer and non-cancer patients. The clinic is based at the Cancer Centre for location purposes only. Please allow plenty of time for parking, there are limited spaces available outside the cancer centre.

NB – all ambulance patients will be seen at cancer centre.

We have a Lymphoedema support group formally SLIMBS (The Staffordshire Lymphoedema Information Management Buddying and Support Group) Who meet every 3 months on a Wednesday at Newcastle Fire Station, Knutton Lane ST5 2SL, 10-12. This is a patient led group,) with a lymphoedema nurse specialist present), where anybody with lymphoedema can attend to meet and discuss various topics, share experiences good and bad and support each other. Please contact the clinic if you would like more information.