About us
The Lymphoedema Service in St Margaret’s Hospice provides specialist assessment and treatment for children and adults with Lymphoedema of any cause. We accept referrals from any Health Care Professional and will accept patients from Somerset (excluding North Somerset), and out of area referrals for children residing in adjoining counties (primarily North Somerset and North Devon).
Our main clinics are outpatient based within the Taunton and Yeovil Hospice sites; however, we also provide outreach clinics in several community hospitals across the county for our stable clients.
We can also offer video call consultations with patients, carers, and other health care professionals.
The Lymphoedema Service is provided by experienced Health Care Professionals with specialist qualifications in Lymphoedema Management from one of the four International Schools of Lymphoedema Training (Foeldi, Leduc, Casley-Smith and Vodder). The service provides a skill mix of staff comprising of Lymphoedema Specialists, Lymphoedema Keyworkers, Lymphoedema Assistant Practitioners, Lymphoedema Health Care Assistants, Lymphoedema Administrators, and volunteers.
What we do?
Although Lymphoedema cannot be cured, it can be managed well by a combination of elements. Our Lymphoedema team provides education and support, helping to ease client’s discomfort and teaching them how best to manage their symptoms:
Such as: -
- Teaching to look after skin correctly and why this is important.
- Promoting exercise and weight management.
- Providing compression therapy.
- Teaching patients simple lymphatic drainage massage.
- Prophylactic monitoring service.
- Kinesio taping.
- Laser light Therapy.
- Intensive bandaging treatments.
- Manual Lymphatic drainage/hivamat.
We encouraged our clients to participate in supporting their treatment plan, working towards self-management.
What to expect at your first appointment
Your initial appointment could be between one and two hours and you will be seen by one of the Lymphoedema Clinicians, who will assess you and aim to give a diagnosis. During your appointment you will be asked to remove any necessary garments, so that we can examine both the swollen and adjoining areas.
You may be asked to transfer onto a couch to enable us to assess you. If you have difficulty getting in and out of a chair or bed, or need special equipment to help you, please let the clinic know before you come to your appointment.
If you think you would like someone else to be present, you are welcome to bring a friend, family member or carer or ask us to provide a chaperone for you.
At the end of your initial assessment, we will agree a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
Prophylactic Video
What is the Lymphoedema Service?
Watch this informative video to learn more of what we do.