Service overview

The Herefordshire Macmillan Lymphoedema Service provides a comprehensive and dedicated specialist Lymphoedema Service. 

• We provide assessment, treatment and psycho-social support for those suffering from primary and secondary lymphoedema in Herefordshire.
• Ensure there is equity in access to a uniform high standard of care provided locally and appropriate to patient’s needs.
• Ultimately the service improves the function and quality of life for Lymphoedema patients, empowering and equipping them with self-care skills and ongoing support. It also reduces the risk of Lymphoedema related cellulitis infection which can require Hospital admission.

 Accessibility/acceptability

We accept patients with Congenital Primary Lymphoedema; Lymphoedema secondary to cancer or palliative patients with Lymphoedema. 

• You will require a written referral from a health professional to us, plus relevant clinical information to assist the assessment process and to ensure the interventions and actions taken are appropriate
• The vast majority of patients are seen in a clinic setting, domiciliary visits will be arranged only for housebound patients, community hospital inpatients and palliative patients as appropriate. Joint visits are offered with the District Nurse Teams as appropriate to ensure collaborative working relationships
• We accept referrals regardless of age, gender, culture there is no discrimination

Where to find us and how to contact us

See right hand side of this page for contact details and see opening hours page for clinic locations.

Treatment clinics

Treatments such as Manual Lymphatic Massage, Multi Lymphoedema Layered Bandaging and Lymphoedema Taping are offered for individuals if assessed as necessary by the specialist and in accordance with service guidelines and criteria for treatments.

Intensive decongestive treatments are planned and offered over the course of the year, this phase of treatment is lengthy and involves complex daily bandaging, manual lymphatic drainage and self care education.

Simple lymphatic drainage (SLD) training session

We run a simple lymphatic drainage (SLD) training session on the first Monday of every month (excluding bank holidays), 2pm to 4pm, at Halo Leisure Centre, Holmer Road, Hereford.  Patients need to be referred to our Lymphoedema service being they can attend this teaching session. 

House-bound patients requiring home treatment

Palliative Patients are offered treatments at home as necessary.  This group of patient can sometimes require urgent bandaging treatment at home and this will be done jointly with the District Nursing Teams, supported by the Lymphoedema CNS.

If appropriate patients are referred onto St Michaels Hospice for inpatient treatment.

The team

The current Lymphoedema service comprises of a small team of three part time Lymphoedema Clinical Nurse Specialists. The lymphoedema service supports collaborative working relationships with other health care professionals and agencies. The service does not work in isolation and often works to achieve a partnership with referrers to attain optimum outcomes for patients.