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.

Class venues: 

  • Bat and Ball Community Centre, Bat and Ball, Crampton's Rd, Sevenoaks TN14 5DN
  • St Philip’s Church, 5 Birken Rd, Tunbridge Wells TN2 3TE
  • Langley Village Hall, Horseshoes Ln, Langley, Maidstone ME17 3JY
  • St Faith’s Centre, Moncktons Ln, Maidstone ME14 2PY

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 

Same day emergency care (SDEC) Tunbridge Wells Hospital

A new, integrated medical and surgical same day emergency care (SDEC) area at Tunbridge Wells Hospital provides rapid assessment and treatment to patients who might otherwise be admitted to hospital.

Referrals can be made by the Emergency Department (ED), GPs, community and the ambulance service, as well as other specialties.

Exclusion criteria

Ambulatory Emergency Care (AEC)

  • Pregnancy related condition/more than 16 weeks
  • Infection control risk (e.g. TB, shingles, meningitis, COVID)
  • Patient not ambulant (minimum to transfer from bed to chair)
  • Patient requiring definite admission
  • Acute confusion.


Acute Frailty Unit (AFU)

  • Suspected new cerebral vascular accident (CVA) or trans ischaemic attack (TIA)
  • Trauma with a suspected fracture
  • Acute abdominal pain with collapse
  • Acute collapse (Glasgow Coma Scale below nine)
  • Chest pain with suspected myocardial infarction (MI)
  • Unstable blood sugar level (28mmols and above or 3mmols or less)
  • Active gastric bleed
  • Active infectious illness (not suitable for open bay).


Orthopaedic Assessment Unit (OAU)

  • Under 16 years
  • Diarrhoea and/or vomiting
  • Communicable diseases (TB, shingles etc)
  • Total NEWS2 score over 3 or scores 2 or above in any one element of NEWS2
  • Temperature over 38.5c
  • New onset confusion
  • Aggressive/abusive/violent behaviour
  • Trauma calls (unless major chest/head trauma ruled out)


Surgical Assessment Unit (SAU)

  • All medical patients
  • All orthopaedic patients  
  • Patients who are surgical but have an additional provisional diagnosis of stroke
  • Patients requiring high dependency/ITU level care
  • Patients with a potentially compromised airway
  • Patients with tracheostomies (acute not long-term condition)
  • All gynaecological patients  
  • Patients under the age of 16
  • Patients who require hoisting
  • Patients known to be MRSA positive
  • Patients who are confused and wandering or at high risk of falls
  • Patients with any contagious infections, e.g. chicken pox or shingles.
  • Patients who are neutropenic
  • Patients with active diarrhoea and vomiting who are assessed as being pathway 1 requiring isolation.
  • Patients who are C Diff carriers who have declared a history of diarrhoea within the last 48 hours
  • Patients who are under a mental health section and deemed to be a danger to themselves or others.


How to refer

AEC community referrals: 07562 172163

AFU and OAU: patients to be referred to ED and triaged as usual

SAU direct GP referrals: 07849 309882

Operational hours

Specialty

Weekdays

Weekends and bank holidays

Referral cut-off time
AEC (medical) 8am to 10pm 8am to 8pm 6pm (Monday to Friday) 
5pm on weekends and bank holidays
AFU (medical) 8am to 8pm 10am to 6pm

2pm (Monday to Friday)

2pm on weekends and bank holidays
SAU (surgical) 8am to 10pm 8am to 10pm 6pm
OAU (surgical) 8am to 8pm 8am to 8pm 6pm

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