We hold regular anticoagulant clinics at Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals where we provide monitoring and advice about anticoagulant treatment.
Find out more about anticoagulant medications, why you might need it and how to manage any side effects from the treatment.
Royal Brompton anticoagulant clinics
The outpatient anticoagulation service is led and managed by a clinical nurse specialist in anticoagulation, under the supervision of the consultant haematologist.
Clinics are held on Monday and Thursday mornings in the outpatients department in Fulham wing. A clinic for patients who use the self-testing service is also held on some Friday mornings.
The direct contact telephone number for the anticoagulation service is 020 7351 8498.
First clinic appointment
You will be given a timed appointment for your first visit to the anticoagulant clinic.
You will see the clinical nurse specialist and be given information about anticoagulant treatment, including the risks and benefits, and how to take your medication safely.
The clinical nurse specialist will ask about your health, lifestyle and current medication, including vitamin supplements and herbal remedies.
You will be provided with an information pack about your anticoagulant treatment and will need to have a blood test at this appointment.
Monday and Thursday clinics
Blood testing for patients on anticoagulant treatment is available from 08:30am to 10:30am.
Please bring your yellow 'Oral Anticoagulant Therapy' record book with you to have your INR test. You may either wait to see the clinical nurse specialist in clinic for your result and dose advice, or your book can be returned to you by first-class post.
The clinical nurse specialist will contact you with your INR result by telephone or email if there is a need to change your warfarin dose.
The clinical nurse specialist will be available for consultation, or to receive your INR result and dose advice during clinic, between 9:15am and 11:30am.
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On a Monday, this will be in room five in outpatients east
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On a Thursday this will be in room 12 in outpatients west
You will need to see the clinical nurse specialist if you:
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have recently been in hospital
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have any changes in your medication or health
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have experienced bleeding (e.g. nose bleeds) or excessive bruising
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need advice about other medical treatment or surgery while taking anticoagulants.
Harefield Hospital anticoagulant clinics
The outpatient anticoagulation service at Harefield Hospital is led and managed by a clinical nurse specialist in anticoagulation, under the supervision of the consultant haematologist.
There are three clinics each week at Harefield Hospital:
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Mondays from 8am to 12pm
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Wednesdays from 8am to 12pm
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Thursdays from 8am to 12pm
The clinics are all held in the outpatients department in the Anzac Centre.
First appointment
You will be given a timed appointment for your first visit to the anticoagulant clinic.
You will see the clinical nurse specialist and be given information about anticoagulant treatment, including the risks and benefits, and how to take your medication safely.
The clinical nurse specialist will ask about your health, lifestyle and current medication, including vitamin supplements and herbal remedies.
You will be provided with an information pack about your anticoagulant treatment and will need to have a blood test at this appointment.
After this first visit, the clinical nurse specialist will phone you the same day with the INR result and advice on how much warfarin you need to take each day. She will also give you the date of your next blood test.
After each visit, we will send you a letter with your INR, dose and the date of your next blood test. The letter also includes a reminder that you let the clinic know if there are any changes to your health, medication, lifestyle, or if any medical procedures or holidays are planned.
Follow-up appointments
For follow-up appointments at the clinic, you will only have a blood test. We will contact you by phone on the same day if you need to change your warfarin dose.
If you do not get a call from us, please continue with the same dose and wait for your letter.
If you have any questions or need to give us information
If you have any questions or changes you wish to discuss with the clinical nurse specialist, please call directly on 01895 828 802. You can also leave a voicemail.