1. Service Mapping Project Pippa McCabe Lymphoedema Clinical Lead

2. Background  Prior to the formation of the Lymphoedema Network Northern Ireland (LNNI) provision of lymphoedema services across Northern Ireland was very varied.  As clinical leads were put in post it was important to establish a baseline of services and structures in each of the Trusts.

3. Aims  Build and accurate regional portfolio of existing lymphoedema management activity.  Identify resources, facilities and support available to services offering lymphoedema management.  Establish a baseline of current standards of clinical practice with regard to lymphoedema management.

4. Developing the Project  A data collection tool was designed based on recommendation following the Review of Lymphoedema Services (2004) and the CREST Guidelines for the Managment of Lymphoedema (2008).  The tool was piloted across 10 services and then rolled out across the Belfast, Northern, Southern and South Eastern Trusts.

5. Results  80 services were mapped across the four trusts between Oct 2008 and Aug 2009  18 in the Belfast Trust  21 in the South Eastern Trust  Out of these services only 33% provided treatment to both primary and secondary lymphoedema in the Belfast Trust and 9.5% in the SET.  Of these services 44.4% offered intensive treatments (MLD, MLLB, limb volume measurement and life-long management) in the Belfast Trust and 20% in the SET

6. Results Continued  Access to prevention and advice leaflets was an average of 33% in the Belfast Trust and 13% in SET.  Number of referrals, assessments and reviews in the past year totalled:  In the Belfast Trust only 3.2 of the 10 trained WTE are funded to carryout lymphoedema management.  In the SET 5.9 staff are lymphoedema trained but only 2.0 are funded to carry out treatment.  Average waiting times for garments were 6.5 weeks in the Belfast Trust and 1.15 weeks in the SET Belfast569559540 South Eastern233 201

7. Summary  The mapping project provided a great deal of detailed information, however main benefits included: Forming contacts with service providers Highlighting areas of need Using results as a tool to compare Trusts and effect change.