Referrals

NHS e-Referral Service

We are committed to receiving primary care referrals via the  NHS e-Referral Service. As well as offering a simplified and integrated booking service covering most specialties, the service is a key opportunity to improve the patient experience.

It offers the certainty of a confirmed appointment and reduces waiting times compared to traditional referral methods.

We are always looking to improve our services. Please call the e-Referral team on 01622 228571 or email  mtw-tr.ers@nhs.net  if you have any queries.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

The Respiratory Practitioner team provides an integrated care pathway for adult patients with a diagnosis of COPD, delivering advanced clinical management to all COPD patients registered with a GP in west Kent.

Patients are reviewed predominantly at home, with the aim of supporting them to manage their condition and avoid hospital admission where possible. Patients are also educated on the correct use of inhaler devices, breathing techniques and the importance of physical activity.

The team also has access to multidisciplinary meetings and to rapid access (‘HOT’) clinics.

Referrals are welcome from primary care, secondary care and other community services. Patients who have previously used the service can also self-refer.

The Respiratory Practitioner team provides the following support in the community:

  • Review of patients with a rapid deterioration of symptoms
  • Review and management of patients having frequent exacerbations or recent admission to hospital
  • Assistance with inhaler management
  • Management of atypical COPD symptoms

As part of the integrated pathway, the team also receives referrals to pulmonary rehabilitation and the home oxygen assessment and review service.

For further referral information and advice, email  mtw-tr.ICP-RESP@nhs.net

Referral forms

HIV 

To make a referral for HIV positive care needs, refer to Maidstone or Gravesend services by sending a referral letter to mtw-tr.rubinclinic@nhs.net.

  • HIV consultant at Maidstone: Dr Lesley Navaratne
  • HIV consultant at Gravesend: Dr Katie Conway

Secretary: 01622 225707

Migraine or other primary headache disorder

In an effort to streamline the large number of referrals for migraine or primary headache disorder we have worked with the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) to create resources to support GP colleagues managing headaches in the community.

Resources include a guideline for Management of Adults with Headaches and Migraines in Primary Care, developed by pharmacists, GP and neurologists which offers current, evidence-based guidance for management of all common headache disorders.

A chronic migraine referral form [docx] 86KB is a mandatory part of headache referral to our neurology services. The form can also be found on the DORIS GP system.

Paediatric orthopaedics

As we are a tertiary centre, there is no need to refer patients to London-based hospitals in the first instance. They can be referred directly to us at the earliest opportunity, using the normal referral procedure.

Urgent referral routes are available for conditions such as DDH, clubfoot, slipped epiphyses, etc.

Please contact the Trauma and Orthopaedics Clinical Admin Unit on 01622 228221 (adults) or 01622 228225 (paediatrics) for more information.

The consultants are also happy to discuss problems by email. Please note, Mr Katchburian also takes adult hand referrals.

 

Pulmonary rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation is an exercise and education programme for people with lung disease who are experiencing symptoms of breathlessness.

We accept patients who have a GP in west Kent and support patients with chronic lung conditions (COPD, chronic asthma, interstitial lung disease and bronchiectasis) through a programme of exercise and education in group sessions at local venues. Respiratory nurses see patients in the hospital and in the community. 

Before starting a programme, patients have a medical review, an exercise test, completing some questionnaires, and setting one or two goals following completion of the programme. 

Group courses are held at local venues and can accommodate up to 16 people, with two sessions per week for six weeks.

Each session consists of up to an hour exercise (including a warm-up and a cool-down), and an education session.

The programmes are supervised by a qualified physiotherapist, respiratory nurse or respiratory practitioner and supported by trained health care professionals such as a physiotherapy/respiratory assistant and respiratory nurses.

To refer a patient please complete the West Kent Pulmonary Rehabilitation referral form [docx] 40KB and send it to the email address on the form. 

For further referral information and advice, email mtw-tr.pulmonaryrehab@nhs.net 

Sexual and reproductive health

For asymptomatic routine STI screening patients please refer patients to www.kent.sh.uk.

If you feel a patient will not be able to order a test online please ask them to call the clinic or send a referral letter.

For patients with symptoms of an STI or those who require contraception please ask the patient to contact the service directly on 0300 373 0709.

If you have concerns the patient may not be able to contact us please send in a referral. Some very young, older patients, and those with physical, sensory or learning disability may be best managed through a referral first.

To make a referral for any complex sexual and reproductive health care needs please send a referral letter to mtw-tr.rubinclinic@nhs.net.

  • Deep implant removal services: Dr Ruhi Jawad
  • Medically complex contraception: Dr Ruhi Jawad
  • Recurrent urethral/vaginal infections: Dr Chamani Sonnadara (Maidstone) or Dr Katie Conway (Gravesend)
  • Genital dermatology services: Dr Lesley Navaratne