We accept referrals of adults with pulmonary hypertension (PH) where the following diagnoses are suspected or proven:
- pulmonary arterial hypertension
- PH due to chronic heart and lung disease
- PH due to chronic thromboembolic disease
- PH due to miscellaneous causes.
- PH due to uncertain causes
The on-call team, including the consultant, are available to discuss potential referrals, especially if they are considered urgent.
Jump to the relevant section
- Before you refer a patient
- GP referrals
- Consultant referrals
- Inter-hospital transfers
- Fast-tracking referrals
- Discharge after inter-hospital transfers
- Outpatient appointments
- Contact us
Before you refer a patient
Ideally, make sure that patients have results from the following basic investigations:
- routine laboratory blood tests (biochemistry, haematology, liver function, clotting screen and thyroid function)
- lung function tests (spirometry and gas transfer)
- echocardiogram
- electrocardiogram
- chest X-ray
Due to the nature of the condition, do not delay any referral so that we can complete more extensive investigations.
Contact the pulmonary hypertension team if you would like to discuss a patient who might be suitable for referral.
GP referrals
GPs can make referrals to the pulmonary hypertension service using the NHS e-Referral service (e-RS). We do not expect GP referrals to include the same clinical information and data that consultant referrals include - the pulmonary hypertension service will triage all referrals made by GPs with the information they can provide. Find out more about pulmonary hypertension to help you with your referral.
We do not accept referrals from GPs by email or letter.
Consultant referrals
All patients referred to the pulmonary hypertension service should have been clinically reviewed and should have their medicines optimised prior to referral (for example, cardiac, diuretic, inhaled, immunosuppressants). All medications should be included on the referral along with past medical history.
In terms of investigations, please ensure the following minimum dataset are included with the referral. For internal referrals please make sure that they are available on EPIC, before you send your referral:
An echocardiogram (report and images), within 6 months of referral.
A BNP or NT-ProBNP within 3 months of referral
Lung function test including transfer factor, within 6 months of referral
CT-PA within 6 months
These investigations will help us to exclude significant lung or left heart disease and to prioritise patients we think have PAH or CTEPH.
The pulmonary hypertension team have to receive all this information before seeing a patient. The clinical data will help us to assess the urgency of the referral. When you email your referral letter you will get an automatic reply acknowledging receipt.
Email: gstt.ph.adminrbh@nhs.net
Telephone: 020 7352 8362
Find out more about pulmonary hypertension to help you with your referral.
Inter-hospital transfers
Consultants at referring hospitals can approve and arrange inter-hospital transfers. Before you arrange the transfers you should discuss the clinical problem and level of urgency with one of our consultants or specialist registrars.
Once the referral has been accepted, make arrangements to transfer your patient to the service from Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm.
Fast-tracking referrals
Referral should be fast-tracked if patients have any of the following:
Clinical signs of rapidly progressive right heart failure, pre-syncope or syncope.
Echo signs of severe PH/right heart dysfunction (e.g. RVSP >60mmHg, RV>LV, septal flattening).
Please call the main switchboard 020 7352 8121 and ask for the on call pulmonary hypertension consultant.
Discharge after inter-hospital transfers
The PH service policy is to transfer a patient back to the care of the referring consultant and hospital as soon as the treatment plan has been completed if they:
- are aged over 65
- have health and social care needs likely to affect their safe discharge home.
This usually takes between five to 10 days after arrival at our hospital.
Outpatient appointments
Patients with an urgent case are usually offered an appointment within two weeks. All other patients will be seen in the first available clinic.
If patients have to travel a long distance or have special needs, we are happy to see them as a day case or occasionally as an overnight stay.
Contact us
Department of Cardiology, Royal Brompton Hospital, Sydney Street, London, SW3 6NP
Pulmonary hypertension admin team
Email: gstt.ph.adminrbh@nhs.net
Telephone: 020 7351 8362
Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm. An answer phone is available at all other times.
Fax: 020 7351 8513
Pulmonary hypertension nursing team
Email: gstt.phnurses@nhs.net
Telephone: 020 7352 8121 ext 82156
Pulmonary hypertension pharmacy team
Email: gstt.phhomecare@nhs.net