The Anticoagulant Clinic. and your. Anticoagulant. Therapy Record Card. Chesterfield Royal Hospital. NHS Foundation Trust

Transcription

1 The Anticoagulant Clinic and your Anticoagulant Therapy Record Card Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

2 Location Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Royal Hospital NHS Trust: Out patient Suite 9 - Pathology. Telephone or Clinic days Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays Wednesdays and Fridays 8.00am - 12 noon 9.00am pm Clinic staff There are three nursing sisters working in the clinic, together with a healthcare assistant and an appointment clerk. Procedure 1. Please wait in the Main Concourse until the clinic opens. 2. Book in at the Front Desk in Suite 9, thirty minutes before your appointment with the Anticoagulation Sister. The receptionist will give you a white Blood Test Form. 3. Please remain in the waiting area where your name will be called for a blood test and a subsequent result. 4. An Anticoagulation Sister will then see you to explain your Warfarin medication and to discuss other relevant aspects of your treatment. 5. Return to the Front Desk in Suite 9 to arrange your next appointment and book an ambulance (if you normally travel to hospital this way).

3 Patient information Your doctor has referred you to the Anticoagulation Clinic for control of your Warfarin. Please read through this information carefully - it contains important facts about Warfarin medication. Each time you visit the clinic, you will be told your current dose of Warfarin. From time to time your dose can change, and it s important that you take Warfarin exactly as prescribed. Oral and written information about your Warfarin will be given to you. The Sisters will arrange a further appointment. Visits will be frequent to start with, but will change to every eight weeks when your Warfarin medication is stabilised. If you cannot attend, tell the Sister or clinic receptionist and make another appointment. Take your medication at 6.00pm every day. If you forget to take a dose, or you take too much, contact the clinic or you family doctor (GP). Bleeding In the event of SEVERE BLEEDING: Dial 999 and ask the ambulance control to take you to Accident & Emergency. Medication Warfarin interacts with a number of other medicines e.g. oils, creams, antibiotics, rheumatic and heart drugs. It is recommended that you have a blood test within twenty-four to forty-eight hours of taking potentially interacting drugs. It is important to remind your family doctor (GP) that you are taking Warfarin when being prescribed new tablets. This may mean increasing, decreasing, or stopping the interacting drugs.

4 Do not Take any herbal medicines, cough or cold remedies, vitamins or cod liver oil capsules. Seek medical advice from your doctor or clinic. Do not take aspirin unless prescribed by your doctor. Drink tonic water and bitter lemon, as they contain quinine, which may thin the blood. Do Eat a normal regular diet. Some foods are rich in Vitamin K, so any weight reduction diets or dietary changes must be discussed with the clinic beforehand, as this could affect your Warfarin medication. We advise alcohol in moderation (two units daily) and heavy drinking should be avoided. Inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking Warfarin, should you need any surgery, intra-muscular injections or dental treatment. Always notify the Anticoagulant Clinic well beforehand. You will need a blood test before any treatment because the Warfarin may need to be stopped or reduced. Have your blood checked more frequently if you are ill between appointments. Ring the clinic if you are too ill to attend. Arrangements may be made for a District Nurse to collect your blood sample or GP to attend. Report any severe diarrhoea or vomiting within twentyfour hours. It is important that you are aware of these DO s and DONT s. Warfarin is an acceptable, safe drug which prevents blood from clotting as long as it is taken correctly and is well controlled and monitored.

5 If you have any worries about your Warfarin treatment please do not hesitate to contact the Anticoagulant Clinic or your GP. We hope you have found this information useful. If you have any comments to make about any aspect of your visit please direct them to a member of the clinic staff or alternatively to: Head of Nursing Medical Directorate Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Royal Hospital NHS Trust Calow, Chesterfield, S44 5BL Telephone Number: Ext Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Calow, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S44 5BL. Tel: ACRecMar05