General
Advice and guidance
Available through national ERS referral process (Target time – 2 to 5 working days)
Operating hours
24/7, 365 days a year
Community services
2 hour UCR / 24 hour district nursing service
Location
Regent Point
Operating hours
- Hospital At Home (HAT): 8am – 8pm
- District nursing: 24 hours.
Contact details
Tel: 0191 282 3664
Email: [email protected]
Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs)
Locations and operating hours
- Ponteland Road: 8am – 10pm
- Molineux Street NHS Centre: 8am – 8pm
Contact details
Tel: 0191 271 9030 or Ext: 26389
Medical services
Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC)
Ambulant patients who are acutely unwell but may be able to avoid an overnight stay in hospital after assessment, investigations and consultant review.
Location
Level 3, Leazes Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
Operating hours
8am – 9pm, 7 days a week
Contact numbers
For general enquiries SDEC can be contacted on 0191 282 1598.
GPs are asked to contact the bed bureau on 0191 223 1404 for discussion of options.
Minor Injuries
The unit assesses and treats patients with wide range of urgent (non-emergency) conditions, minor injuries and illnesses. Patients can self present.
Location
Level 3, Leazes Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary
Operating hours
8am – 9pm , 7 days a week
Assessment suite
For patients who GPs wish to admit please contact bed bureau on the details below.
Location
Level 3, Leazes Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary
Operating hours
Available 24/7
Contact details
A consultant physician in acute medicine can be contacted for an emergency admission opinion via switchboard on 0191 233 6161.
After 5pm, please call the medical registrar on 0191 282 9918.
Urgent stroke / TIA walk-in service
Newcastle GPs can access this clinic to obtain a rapid specialist assessment of a patient presenting with symptoms of TIA.
Information
All patients with suspected TIA regardless of ABCD2 score need to be referred urgently.
GPs can use the ABCD2 assessment tool for guidance and can ring the nurse specialist team to discuss any high risk patients such as:
- ABCD2 score of 4 or more and symptoms within the last 7 days.
- More than 1 episode in the last 7 days (even if the ABCD2 score is 3 or less). Patient is taking anticoagulation
To refer via the NHS electronic referral system – eRS. General medicine, stroke and TIA services.
Please fully complete the Transient Ischaemic Attack referral form and also include as much information on symptoms as possible and include a GP summary.
Location
Clinic F, main outpatients department, Level 1, New Victoria Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary
Operating hours
This is a 7 day service:
- On weekdays, clinics are held 9am – 1pm.
- On weekends and bank holidays, urgent cases will be seen on the Hyper Acute Stroke Unit (ward 42), Level 4, Leazes Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI).
Contact details
TIA and stroke secretary:
- Tel: 0191 282 4079
- Tel: 0191 282 4194
TIA nurse specialist: 0191 282 9313
Palliative care
You can contact the palliative care team for telephone advice. An urgent visit can be arranged between 9am and 4pm if appropriate.
Location
Newcastle Community
Operational hours
- Monday to Friday: 8.30am – 5pm
- Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays: 9am – 5pm
- Out of Hours: 5pm – 9am
Contact details
Newcastle North & East: 07833 402 686
Newcastle West: 07833 402 701
Hospadvice line: 0191 273 3435 (telephone advice only)
Endocrinology
Our endocrinology urgent clinic offers rapid access for patients considered to be in need of urgent assessment for acute onset of endocrine related conditions.
Urgent assessment
Patients with conditions such as Thyrotoxicosis, suspected adrenal failure and suspected pituitary tumours requiring urgent assessment.
Location
Outpatient Department, Level 1, New Victoria Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
Operational hours
Held Tuesdays
Contact details
GPs should call the switchboard 0191 233 6161 and ask for the endocrine consultant on-call who can give advice or arrange a slot in our urgent clinic if needed.
Dermatology
Emergency appointments are available for patients with urgent problems affecting their skin that need to be assessed within 48 hours.
These emergency appointments are for urgent acute skin conditions in need of urgent assessment.
Patients should be referred for these emergency appointments rather than via the Assessment Suite.
Any patient presenting with acute severe skin problems that require assessment within 1-2 weeks.
Information
Please note this is not for patients with lesions or suspected skin cancer – please use appropriate 2WW pathway for less urgent advice please consider using the advice and guidance system.
Location
Dermatology outpatients department
Operating hours
Monday to Friday
Contact details
GPs should call the switchboard on 0191 233 6161 and ask for the dermatology specialist registrar who can give advice or arrange a consultation if needed.
Please note an e-referral will still be required.
Gastroenterology
Location
Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) / Freeman Hospital
Operating hours
Monday to Friday
Contact details
Urgent only outpatient requests to be emailed directly to: [email protected]
Respiratory (RVI)
Location
Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
Contact details
Urgent only – RVI referrals
Email: [email protected]
The secretary who looks after RVI respiratory email referral is can be contacted on 0191 282 4776.
Infectious diseases
This clinic / urgent review service can be accessed by GPs who would like a rapid opinion regarding infection. In particular, patients with an illness related to travel, all patients with possible MERSCoV, Viral Haemorrhagic Fever, SARS and Avian Influenza must be discussed with infectious diseases.
In addition we offer a rapid review of patients with possible Malaria or other tropical infections.
We would also like to be contacted about patients with possible meningitis and significant communicable diseases (eg. measles, chickenpox, mumps etc), or patients with complications of HIV. Patients will be seen within 24 hours of referral.
Location
Ward 19, Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
Operating hours
Monday to Friday
Contact details
To seek an opinion and referral to the infectious diseases’ urgent clinic call 0191 282 3722 between the hours of 9am until 5pm.
Out of hours, call the switchboard on 0191 233 6161 and ask for the on-call doctor in infectious diseases at the RVI (9am until 10pm weekends and 5pm until 10pm weekdays)
Out of hours call the Switchboard on 0191 233 6161 and ask for the on-call medical registrar.
Diabetes
This service is for people newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. All referrals will be seen within 24 working hours of referral.
Location
Newcastle Diabetes Centre, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6BE
Operating hours
Monday to Friday
Contact details
Referral to this service is by telephone on 0191 282 3867 (choose option 1)
Renal
Patients can be referred for an urgent appointment if they are showing symptoms of acute kidney injury, severe hypertension, nephrotic syndrome or have rapidly deteriorating chronic kidney disease.
Patients who require urgent assessment will be seen within one week of referral.
Location
Renal outpatient department, level 2, renal services centre, Freeman Hospital
Operating hours
The department is open Monday to Friday. Appointment times will vary – please discuss with the on-call team.
Contact details
To refer a patient, call the switchboard on 0191 233 6161 and ask for the on-call service for external referrals at renal services.
Rheumatology / GCA referrals / urgent rheumatology referrals
Location
Rheumatology Department, Level 1, Freeman Hospital
Operating hours
Advice line – available 24/7, 365 days per year – monitored Monday to Friday: 9am – 12noon and 1pm to 4pm.
On-call: Available 24/7, Monday to Friday.
Contact details
An advice line is available for repeat prescriptions, medication issues and deteriorating conditions on: 0191 213 7967
Patients with suspected GCA being referred from GP to contact rheumatology registrar on-call via the switchboard 0191 233 6161.
Urgent rheumatology referrals can be made contacting on-call rheumatology team via switchboard
0191 233 6161.
Rapid access chest pain clinic
Information
If your patient has suspected acute coronary syndrome, i.e. myocardial infarction or unstable angina, please consider admission to hospital rather than referral to the clinic.
The rapid access chest pain clinic is only for patients with suspected angina who have demonstrated typical anginal pain features within 2 months.
If your patient has non-anginal chest pain but has other cardiological symptoms, they should be referred to the general cardiology outpatient clinic.
Operating hours
Cardiology Clinic Outpatient Department, Clinic A, Level 1, New Victoria Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary.
Clinics are held Monday to Thursday, 1pm – 4.30pm and Friday, 9am – 12noon. We are able to see up to 6 patients in each clinic.
Contact details
Cardiology clinic outpatient department call 0191 282 0168 (select option 1) – Monday to Friday: 8.30am – 4.30pm.
A referral should be made using the RVI Rapid Access Angina Service Referral Form version MAR 2022 on EMIS, SystmOne or GPTeamNet.
If your referral needs are more urgent, you can call the switchboard 0191 233 6161 and ask for medical registrar on call for the RVI.
For clinical advice Monday to Thursday (8.30am – 12noon) and Friday (12.30pm – 3pm) please contact the clinic nurse practitioner on 0191 282 9850.
Hepatology
Operating hours
24/7 – Monday to Friday
Contact details
Referrals triaged by consultant via RAS with Advice & Guidance available. Urgent advice and referrals can be made contacting the on-call hepatology team via switchboard: 0191 233 6161.
Surgery
Surgical Admissions Unit (SAU)
SAU is primarily for use by adult patients directly referred from their GP or A&E.
Location
Ward 45 Leazes wing Level 5 RVI
Operating hours
Opening hours are 7.30am – 8pm, with the last patient accepted onto the unit at 6pm.
Contact details
All A&E referrals should be discussed with the RSO or SpR on-call.
All GP referrals should receive telephone triage from the surgical nurse practitioner on 0191 287 7318.
Additionally, referrals will be accepted from specialist nurses / consultants whose patient requires emergency surgical management where utilising SAU would prevent an A&E attendance.
Abscess pathway referrals should be made by completing the referral form and emailing to [email protected].
Patients arriving and referrals received after 6pm are to be referred to SDEC / AS.
ENT casualty
Access to the clinic and advice on suitability of referral can be sought from the on-call doctor asking for the ENT on call via switchboard.
Location
ENT outpatient department, level 3, Freeman Hospital
Operating hours
The department is open Monday to Friday 9.30am – 4pm. There is no service on weekends.
Contact details
Call the switchboard on 0191 233 6161 and ask for the ENT doctor on-call.
Ophthalmology eye casualty
Patients can self-refer to this clinic. Advice on suitability of referral can be sought from the doctor in eye casualty during opening hours or the on-call registrar out-of-hours.
Location
Eye department, level 2, Claremont Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI).
The department is open Monday to Friday (8.30am – 4.30pm) and Saturday (9am – 11.30am).
Please note, Saturday clinic is an urgent appointment system for emergency cases only.
Contact details
In-hours, call the switchboard on 0191 233 6161 and ask for the ophthalmology on-call.
Out-of-hours call the switchboard on 0191 233 6161 and ask for the the ophthalmology registrar on call.
Further guidance hereAdult plastics emergency trauma clinic (acute injuries)
Patients will only be seen by referral from another practitioner. Advice on suitability of referral must be sought from the on-call SHO.
Location
Plastic Surgery and Hand Unit, Level 1, New Victoria Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary.
Operating hours
The department is open Monday to Friday (10am – 4pm) Saturday and Sunday (9am – 12.30pm).
Contact details
Advice on suitability of referral must be sought from the on-call SHO, available 24hrs on 0191 282 9660.
All burns referrals are taken by the burns unit and directed to the appropriate site i.e. trauma clinic / ED depending on severity 0191 282 5637.
Orthopaedics
The on-call service at the Freeman Hospital is provided by a specialist registrar who will liaise with the trauma team on call at RVI, or an orthopaedic consultant in Freeman as appropriate.
Contact details
The orthopaedic on-call service (Ext 48605) at the Freeman Hospital is available from 8.30am – 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Advice about patients on the orthopaedic ward can usually be obtained from the responsible consultant at any time.
Out-of-hours, on weekends and bank holidays, urgent advice can be obtained from the emergency on-call orthopaedic team at the RVI.
Fracture clinic (UHND and DMH)
Patients can be referred to this clinic by their GP or may be sent here following a visit to either the emergency department, walk-in centre or minor injury unit. Other urgent access for advice is the orthopaedic on call registrar 24/7, 7 days a week.
Location
Fracture Clinic, Level 1, New Victoria Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
Operating hours
Monday to Friday: 8.30am to 5pm.
Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays: 8.30am to 12noon.
Urgent access for advice is through the orthopaedic on-call registrar, 24/7, 7 days a week.
Please note, the clinic is closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day
Contact details
Orthopaedic on-call registrar: 0191 282 1877
Plaster room
Location
Fracture Clinic, Level 1, New Victoria Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary
Operating hours
Monday to Friday: 8.30am to 5pm
Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays: 9am to 12noon.
Family health (women and children)
Gynaecology SDEC (Emergency Gynaecology Clinic) / EPAU (Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit)
Location
Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI), level 4, Leazes Wing
Operating hours
Gynae emergency (Ward 40) is available 24/7
EPAC: 8am – 4pm, 7 days / week.
Contact
Gynae emergency telephone 0191 282 1997
EPAC telephone: 0191 282 9903 or 0191 282 5479
Maternity assessment unit
Location
Leazes Wing, level 4, Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
Operating hours
24/7, 365 days a year
Contact details
Maternity assessment unit telephone 0191 282 5748
Paediatrics
For urgent telephone advice and paediatric phlebotomy.
Operating hours
- PEAU: Monday – Friday: 9am – 5pm
- COPD: Monday – Friday
Contact details
Booked through the appointment booking centre (ABC): 0191 917 7566
Cardiothoracic services
Rapid access angina service
This service is for patients with suspected angina, or worsening angina. The patient will be seen within 14 days referral. Patient to be referred using the ‘rapid access angina service’ referral form and sent via the referral system including information of recent ECGs and blood test results.
The rapid access chest pain clinic is for patients with suspected angina demonstrating typical anginal pain features. If the patient presents with non-anginal chest pain, new murmurs, dizziness, breathlessness, or palpitations, they should be referred to the general cardiology outpatient clinic.
If the patient has suspected acute coronary syndrome, i.e. Myocardial infarction or unstable angina, please consider admission to hospital rather than referral to the clinic.
For further specifications on referral criteria please refer to page 1 of the referral form.
How to refer
Please ensure you are referring patients to the nearest local rapid access angina service.
The rapid access angina service referral form is available to download from SystemOne and EMIS. The current version is Nov 2022.
We do not accept fax, E-Mail, or telephone referrals.
Location
Cardiology clinic outpatient department, level 1, New Victoria Wing, Royal Victoria infirmary (RVI).
Operating hours
Clinics are held between 3 and 4 days a week (6 patient slots per clinic).
- Monday to Thursday: 1pm – 4pm
- Friday: 9am – 12noon
Contact details
For appointment information please call 0191 282 0168 (Weekdays 9am – 3.30pm)
If your referral needs are more urgent, you can call the switchboard on 0191 233 6161 and asked for the on-call cardiologist at the RVI.
For clinical advice you can contact the cardiology nurse practitioner on 0191 282 9850
Heart failure clinic
This clinic is for patients with symptoms of suspected heart failure who have no previous diagnosis of heart failure and or left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Patients will have an ECG and echocardiogram and an assessment by a cardiologist the day they come to the clinic.
Patients with symptoms of suspected heart failure (HF) who are not known to have heart failure and / or significant left ventricular systolic dysfunction.
Patients should have an initial assessment in primary care in line with the local heart failure guidelines.
The service is for patients with a new diagnosis of HF only who have either had a first echo or no echo previously (these patients will require a BNP to be triaged for most appropriate pathway).
Patients who have known HF should be referred to a general HF clinic (Dr Fernandez, Dr Peal, Dr MacGowan, or Dr McDiarmid for FRH and Dr Bailey, Dr Williams, or Dr Nelson for RVI). Referral form via GP team net.
Location
Cardiology clinic outpatients department, Level 1, New Victoria Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
Clinics are held
Wednesday: 8.40am – 11.30am
Friday: 8.40am – 10am
Contact details
0191 2820168 (option 6)
Arrythmia clinic (Direct ACCESS)
Acutely unwell patients
Patients who are acutely unwell should not be referred and may need urgent admission to hospital.
This service is for patients with suspected sustained arrhythmia or atrial fibrillation. Patients will be seen within two weeks. E-referral including any recent ECGs and blood tests.
Patients with symptomatic sustained palpitation (an awareness of abnormal heartbeat) are the most likely to benefit from referral.
Those with predominant symptoms of breathlessness, chest pain and / or syncope should be referred as at present. Patients with atrial fibrillation can be seen in this clinic, especially if symptomatic.
Whilst advice will be given about anticoagulation, this service does not intend to replace standard guidance.
Patients will benefit from:
- Early diagnosis with reassurance for the majority.
- Decision support, especially rate versus rhythm control in atrial fibrillation.
- Early access to cardioversion and (for a minority) ablation.
- Advice about anticoagulation. If we plan a procedure, we will start anticoagulation.
- E referral.
Location
Clinic A, main outpatients department, Level 2, Freeman Hospital
Operating hours
Clinics are held Monday, Tuesday, and Friday: 9am – 12noon.
Clinics are held in the morning, 3 days a week (with up to 4 slots per clinic).
There are also review slots if patients need to be seen again in the clinic.
Contact details
Telephone: 0191 223 1459
Home ventilation advice line
Advice line for current patients, GP’s are also welcome to use the service for general enquires or specific information regarding a patient.
Operating hours
Monday to Friday: 8am – 6pm
Contact details
Tel: 0191 282 3153
- Option 1: Admin team
- Option 2: Equipment team (goes to voicemail and is then picked up and actioned by the team)
- Option 3: Clinical team (goes to voicemail and is then picked up and actioned by the team).
Dentistry
Urgent detail advice
Call NHS 111 for urgent dental advice
Operating hours
Available 24/7, 365 days per year.
Cancer and haematology services
Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Freeman Hospital
Assessment area dedicated to oncology and haematology patients who are unwell and require assessment and / or admission.
Same-day emergency reviews and can offer review the following day if the patient is stable enough to wait overnight.
Patient assessment is generally appropriate for the following conditions this list is not exhaustive:
- Suspected or confirmed neutropenic sepsis.
- Infections or blood clots in lines.
- Confirmed or suspected metastatic spinal cord compression.
- Superior vena cava obstruction.
- Other acute metabolic disturbances e.g, dehydration, hyperemesis, electrolyte disturbance.
The service is available for patients who are not severely unwell but who need urgent assessment.
We will review all oncology patients who live in Newcastle and have complications of their cancer treatment or disease. If the patient lives out of area this needs to be discussed with the consultant on call before accepting the patient (this is due to bed capacity).
Haematology patients who have any complications of their treatment or malignancy can be assessed on ward 36.
Location
Ward 36, level 3, Northern Centre for Cancer Care (NCCC), Freeman Hospital
Operating hours
Available 8am – 7pm, every day (excluding Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day).
Out-of-hours contact haematology or oncology registrar on call via the switchboard.
Contact details
GPs are asked to contact one of the below:
- Acute oncology team (Available Monday to Friday: 8am – 5pm) on 0191 282 1855
- On-call haematology or oncology SpR (Available 24/7) via switchboard on 0191 233 6161
- NCCC emergency helpline (Available 24/7) on 0191 213 9302
Clinical support services – Radiology
Plain film x-ray – Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
Walk-in service for plain film X-ray of adults and children. There is a dedicated children’s department at the RVI.
No appointment required, but an x-ray referral must be made via ICE Radiology requesting system.
Urgent acute, and non-urgent patients can be directed to attend as a walk-in service during operational hours.
Location
Main Radiology Department Level 3, New Victoria Wing, Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
Operating hours
Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 11.45am then 2pm – 4.30pm
Contact details
Time critical (follow-up) imaging appointments can be made by calling 0191 282 4827.
Please note, an x-ray referral is required for such patients.
Plain film x-ray – Freeman Hospital (main radiology dept)
Walk-in service for plain film x-ray of adults and children.
Appointment only Saturday morning plain film x-ray of adults and children.
Please note
There is no trauma centre at the Freeman Hospital
No appointment required, but an x-ray referral must be made via ICE Radiology requesting system.
Urgent acute, and non-urgent patients can be directed to attend as a walk-in service during operational hours.
Location
Main radiology department, Level 2, podium block, Freeman Hospital
Operating hours
Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 11.30am then 2pm – 4.30pm
Saturday (appointment only): 9am – 11.45am
Contact details
Time critical (follow up) imaging, and Saturday appointments can be made by calling: 0191 282 4827.
Please note, an x-ray referral is required for such patients.
Plain film x-ray – Freeman Hospital (cardio)
Walk-in service for plain film x-ray of adults and children.
Appointment only Saturday morning plain film x-ray of adults and children.
There is no trauma centre at the Freeman Hospital.
Urgent acute, and non-urgent patients can be directed to attend as a walk in service during operational hours.
No appointment required, but an x-ray referral must be made via ICE Radiology requesting system.
Location
Cardio radiology department, Level 2, cardio block, Freeman Hospital
Operating hours
Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 11.30am and then 2pm – 4.30pm
Saturday (appointment only): 9am – 11.45am
Contact details
Time critical (follow-up) imaging, and Saturday appointments can be made by calling 0191 282 4827.
Please note, an x-ray referral is required for such patients.
Ponteland Road Health Centre
Walk-in service for plain film x-ray of adults and children.
There is a minor injuries unit at Ponteland Road Health Centre providing referral for imaging of Minor trauma to upper and lower limb only (elbow to fingers / knee to toes).
Please note
Major trauma and suspected fractures must not be directed to Ponteland Road Health Centre.
Urgent acute, and non-urgent patients can be directed to attend as a walk-in service during operational hours.
No appointment required, but an x-ray referral must be made via ICE Radiology requesting system.
Location
Ponteland Road Health Centre
Level 1, Ponteland Road Health Centre
169 Ponteland road
Cowgate Newcastle upon Tyne
NE5 3AE.
Operating hours
Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 12.45pm and then 1.45pm – 3.30pm
Saturday: 9.30am – 12noon and then 1.15pm – 3.30pm
Contact details
Time critical (follow-up) imaging appointments can be made by calling 0191 282 4827.
Please note, an x-ray referral is required for such patients.
Benfield Park Health Centre
Walk-in service for plain film x-ray of adults and children.
Please note
Major trauma and suspected fractures must not be directed to Benfield Park.
Urgent acute, and non-urgent patients can be directed to attend as a walk in service during operational hours.
No appointment required, but an x-ray referral must be made via ICE Radiology requesting system.
Location
Benfield Park Healthcare and Diagnostics Centre
Level 1 Benfield Park Healthcare and diagnostics centre Benfield road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE6 4QD.
Operating hours
Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 12.45pm and then 1.45pm – 3.30pm
Contact details
Time critical (follow-up) imaging appointments can be made by calling 0191 282 4827
Please note, an x-ray referral is required for such patients.
Ultrasound
Appointment only service for ultrasound of adults.
Please note, paediatric ultrasound will be performed at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI).
All ultrasound patients require an appointment for imaging.
Appointments are issued automatically by Radiology.
Patients do not need to call and arrange an appointment.
Operating hours
Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 12noon and then 1pm – 4.30pm
Clinical Support Services – Pathology
Microbiology
Clinical team will escalate abnormal results during routine and out of hours.
Operating hours
Routine hours (Monday – Friday): 8am – 8pm
Saturday – Sunday: 8am – 12noon
Contact details
Laboratory contact: 0191 223 1019 (out of hours contact made via on-call clinical team)
On-call clinician via switchboard on 0191 233 6161
Clinical biochemistry
Clinical advice available via duty Biochemist.
Operating hours
During office hours (Monday- Friday): 9am – 5pm
Contact details
Duty Biochemist contact via switchboard 0191 233 6161 (Ext: 29719 (RVI) or 48889 (FH)) or via email [email protected]
Histopathology
Significant abnormal results relayed via clinical team.
Significant abnormal results: This refers to cases in which the default patient pathway would not involve MDT discussion e.g. unexpected melanoma in a GP sample thought to be benign. The requesting clinician should be informed to ensure that the patient’s unexpected diagnosis results in them being discussed at the appropriate multi- disciplinary meeting. Alternatively, direct referral of the patient to the appropriate MDT can be made.
Operational hours
Monday – Friday: 8am – 5pm
Contact details
Outside office hours (5pm to 9am Monday to Friday and weekend/bank holidays) clinical advice is available via contacting the switchboard on 0191 233 6161 and asking to be put through to the consultant on-call (duty medical officer) for clinical biochemistry.
