The Anticoagulation Service provides monitoring of Warfarin/Sinthrome. This involves a finger prick test. With immediate results, which allows your Specialist Nurse to determine safe dosing of your medication, along with providing a next test appointment.
This service is provided at Salford Royal. Eccles Gateway Tuesday morning, Thursday morning, Friday Afternoon. Swinton Gateway Tuesday all day. Irlam (Chapel Medical Centre) Wednesday Morning. Pendleton Gateway Wednesday Afternoon. Energise Centre Thursday afternoon. Newbury Place Thursday afternoon. Ordsall Health Centre Friday Morning. Walkden Gateway Friday all day.
We also provide a clinic on Saturday mornings alternating between Eccles and Walkden gateway. Staff working at this clinic is also on call to see patients at home for emergency INR checks where their INR result has been very high, that day or the previous day.
The team provide domiciliary visits Monday to Friday, specific days for specific areas.
We have patients who have a machine they can do the INR test themselves and email in the result, a member of the team then checks and replies by email with the result and requested next test date.
Patients are referred to the Anticoagulation Service if they have had a Blood clot, or have an irregular heart beat. A replacement or mechanical heart valve. A clotting disorder such as thrombophilia. Sometimes after surgery if the patient has an increased risk of blood clots forming.
The first appointment with the team is usually 30 minutes or so. In this first meeting you will have your medication explained to you. You will be advised how the medication works, the do’s and don’ts regarding what can affect your medication. Any potential side effects. What to do if there are any changes to your circumstances, e.g. new medication, missed medication, changes to your diet or alcohol intake and be provided with leaflets. A yellow book which you will be required to keep with you and take to all your appointments. The yellow book contains contact information for the Anticoagulation Team. It will also have the reason why you are taking this medication, as well as the size in milligrams (MG) and colour of you tablets. There is also patient information in the front a back page’s that is a reminder of all the information given you at your first appointment.
Outpatients Red Area 6
The service takes referrals only from medical persons.
A yellow book which you will be required to keep with you and take to all your appointments. The yellow book contains contact information for the Anticoagulation Team. It will also have the reason why you are taking this medication, as well as the size in milligrams (MG) and colour of you tablets. There is also patient information in the front a back page’s that is a reminder of all the information given you at your first appointment.
You will also be provided with a Yellow booklet, containing all the above information in a little more depth, along with a picture of the medication, showing the colours and relating strength.
The service works closely with other departments in the hospital. If you are an inpatient for example and are being discharged. If you require surgery and/or your mediation needs to be suspended and alternative cover needs to be provided. This includes dental and other procedures, for example.