We accept referrals of adults with pulmonary hypertension (PH) where the following diagnoses are suspected or proven:
- pulmonary arterial hypertension
- PH due to chronic heart and lung disease
- PH due to chronic thromboembolic disease
- PH due to miscellaneous causes.
- PH due to uncertain causes
The on-call team, including the consultant, are available to discuss potential referrals, especially if they are considered urgent.
Before you refer a patient
Ideally, make sure that patients have results from the following basic investigations:
- routine laboratory blood tests (biochemistry, haematology, liver function, clotting screen and thyroid function)
- lung function tests (spirometry and gas transfer)
- echocardiogram
- electrocardiogram
- chest X-ray
Due to the nature of the condition, do not delay any referral so that we can complete more extensive investigations.
Contact the pulmonary hypertension team if you would like to discuss a patient who might be suitable for referral.
Refer a patient
The GP or consultant referral letter should contain the following information:
- the severity of symptoms according to the World Health Organisation
- relevant risk factors
- results of the procedures
- copies of relevant previous imaging investigations, preferably on CD
- copies of other investigations performed.
Find out more about pulmonary hypertension to help you with your referral.
The PH team have to receive all this information before seeing a patient. The clinical data will help us to assess the urgency of the referral.
Send the referral letter to:
Pulmonary hypertension service
Department of Cardiology
Chelsea Wing
Royal Brompton Hospital
Sydney Street
London
SW3 6NP
If you are emailing your referral you should use a nhs.net email account. You can call the PH office on 0207 352 8362 to get the email address.
Inter-hospital transfers
Consultants at referring hospitals can approve and arrange inter-hospital transfers. Before you arrange the transfers you should discuss the clinical problem and level of urgency with one of our consultants or specialist registrars.
Once the referral has been accepted, make arrangements to transfer your patient to the service from Monday to Friday between 8 am and 5 pm.
Discharge after inter-hospital transfers
The PH service policy is to transfer a patient back to the care of the referring consultant and hospital as soon as the treatment plan has been completed if they:
- are aged over 65
- have health and social care needs likely to affect their safe discharge home.
This usually takes between five to 10 days after arrival at our hospital.
Outpatient appointments
Patients with an urgent case are usually offered an appointment within two weeks. All other patients will be seen in the first available clinic.
If patients have to travel a long distance or have special needs, we are happy to see them as a day case or occasionally as an overnight stay.
Pulmonary hypertension service
Department of Cardiology, Royal Brompton Hospital, Sydney Street, London, SW3 6NP
Telephone: 020 7351 8362
Fax: 020 7351 8513
Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm
An answer phone is available at all other times.