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International Consensus: BEST PRACTICE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF LYMPHOEDEMA
Lymphoedema is a progressive chronic condition that affects a significant number of people and can have deleterious effects on patients' physical and psychosocial health. Even though it may be greatly ameliorated by appropriate management, many patients receive inadequate treatment, are unaware that treatment is available or do not know where to seek help.

Several recent systematic reviews have highlighted the distinct lack of evidence for the optimal management of lymphoedema. By presenting a model for best practice in lymphoedema in adults, this document aims to raise the profile of the condition and improve the care that patients receive.

The guidance provided in this document was derived from a UK national consensus on standards of practice for people who are at risk of or who have lymphoedema  The consensus process was launched in 2002 and was driven by the Lymphoedema Framework with input from national patient support groups, patients with lymphoedema, national professional lymphoedema groups, clinical experts and industry.

Production of this document included review by an international panel of experts and endorsement by key national Lymphoedema organisations. The recommendations resulting from the consensus approach are included where relevant. Each recommendation has been classified according to the UK NHS Health Technology Assessment model for guideline development.

This document will be reviewed and updated after five years. Key references have been included.

Download the full document here:
Best_practice_20_July.pdf (3.9 MB)
Posted on 23 Mar 2009
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Forthcoming Events

Lymphoedema awareness study sessions

Dates: 1 April 2009
Address: The Mills, Moor Lane, Lancaster, LA1 1QD (parking available close by),  Event Map Link
Times: Either 10am-12:15pm (registration from 9:15am) OR 1:45pm – 4pm (registration from 12:30) ON 1ST APRIL 2009
Cost: Free, Buffet Lunch available from 12:30
Booking: To book a place contact Denise Hardy on 01539 735111 or email: denise.hardy@kendal-lymphology.org

Lymphoedema awareness week

Dates: 20 to 26 April 2009
Address: All over the UK, Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Stand at Phoenix Health Centre

Stands and providing information

Dates: 20 April 2009
Address: Phoenix Health Centre, Parkfield Rd, Parkfield, Wolverhampton WV4 6ED, Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Stand at Basingstoke & North Hampshire NHS Foundation Trust

Stand with information and promotional items.

Dates: 20 to 24 April 2009
Address: Basingstoke & North Hampshire NHS Foundation Trust & Diagnostic & Treatment Centre,  Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Stand at Cheltenham General Hospital

Information and promotional items.

Dates: 20 to 24 April 2009
Address: Cheltenham General Hospital, Oncology Unit Rendcomb Ward,  Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Notice Board at Cheltenham General Hospital

Notice Board with information for patients, staff and the public.

Dates: 20 to 24 April 2009
Address: Cheltenham General Hospital, Oncology Unit Rendcomb Ward,  Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Stand at St Margaret's Somerset Hospice, Taunton

Stand within the hospice with information.

Dates: 20 to 24 April 2009
Address: St Margaret's Somerset Hospice, Little Tarrott lane, Yeovil, Somerset, BA20 2HU,  Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Awareness event at Wrexham Maelor Hospital

The centre will be highlighting the BLS Awareness Week.

Dates: 20 to 24 April 2009
Address: Wrexham Maelor Hospital Awareness Centre, Croesnewydd Road Wrexham LL13 7TD,  Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Stand at St Helena Hospice, Colchester

Stand during Awareness week.

Dates: 20 to 24 April 2009
Address: St Helena Hospice, Barncroft Close, Highwoods, Colchester CO4 9JU,  Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Stand at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, Oldham

Local support group and the Lymphoedema service will be jointly running a stand with quizzes, prizes and information.

Dates: 20 to 24 April 2009
Address: Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, Turf Lane, Royton, Oldham, OL2,  Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Stand at Velindre Cardiff

Local support group and the Lymphoedema service will be jointly running a stand with quizzes, prizes and information.

Dates: 20 to 24 April 2009
Address: Velindre Hospital, Velindre Rd, Cardiff, CF14 2TL,  Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Stand at Belfast City Hospital

Stand with information to raise awareness to patients and visitors.

Dates: 20 to 24 April 2009
Address: Cancer Centre, Belfast City Hospital, Lisburn Rd, Belfast, BT9 7AB,  Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Display board at Hinchingbrooke Hospital

Display board with information in the main hospital information zone and the lymphoedema clinic area.

Dates: 20 to 24 April 2009
Address: Lymphoedema Clinic, The Woodlands Centre, Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Hinchingbrooke Park, Huntingdon, Cambs PE29 6NT,  Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Launch of BLS Awareness Week

Dates: 21 April 2009
Address: Royal Ascot Stand 8,   Event Map Link
Times: 5 pm
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Stand at Arthur Rank House, Cambridge

Stand in the foyer - Posters and information.

Dates: 21 to 24 April 2009
Address: Arthur Rank House Hospice 351 Mill Rd, Cambridge, CB24 5NE,   Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Stand at Ladies Walk Health Centre, Dudley

The stand will be running a competition and will also have information, literature and promotional goods for health professionals

Dates: 21 to 24 April 2009
Address: Ladies Walk Health Centre Main Reception area Dudley group of Hospitals, DY1 2HQ,  Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

1st Annual International Lymphoedema Conference & Exhibition 2009

The first International Lymphoedema Conference will be based on a different, challenging, exciting and inclusive format. The main theme of the conference is to achieve care improvements globally through effective service development. To help achieve this, experts in the field of Lymphoedema management from around the world will come together to discuss and share their experiences.

Dates: 21 to 23 April 2009
Address: Royal Ascot,   Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Lymphoedema Talk, Oldham Sports Centre

Lymphoedema Talk in the morning.

Dates: 21 April 2009
Address: Oldham Age Forum, Oldham Sports Centre, Oldham, OL1 3HA,   Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Lymphoedema Display, Royal Oldham Hospital

Lymphoedema Display with information.

Dates: 21 April 2009
Address: Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Road, Oldham, Lancashire, OL1 2JH,   Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Stand at James Paget University Hospitals, Great Yarmouth

Stand with information and promotional items.

Dates: 22 April 2009
Address: James Paget University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Lowestoft Road, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR31 6LA,   Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Awareness stand at St Woolos Hospital, Newport

Awareness stand at St Woolos Hospital Newport.

Dates: 22 April 2009
Address: St Woolos Hospital, 131 Stow Hill, Newport, NP20,   Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Clinical nurse at Beatson Oncology Centre

Lymphoedema Clinical Nurse Specialist will be present at the centre with information.

Dates: 22 April 2009
Address: Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, 1053 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G12 0YN,   Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Coffee mornings at The Ringwood Medical Centre

Coffee mornings at the Lymphoedema Clinic Ringwood Hants.

Dates: 23 to 24 April 2009
Address: Lymphoedema Clinic, The Ringwood Medical Centre, The Close, Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 1JY,   Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Stand at Phoenix Health Centre

Stands and providing information

Dates: 24 April 2009
Address: Phoenix Health Centre, Parkfield Rd, Parkfield, Wolverhampton, WV4 6ED,   Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Lymphoedema support group

Lymphoedema support group at the Liverpool Marie Curie Hospice.

Dates: 24 April 2009
Address: Liverpool Marie Curie Hospice, 5 Speke Rd, Woolton, Liverpool, Liverpool, L25,   Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Open Session, Aberdeen

Open Session for staff and public from 11am – 1pm

Dates: 24 April 2009
Address: David Anderson Building, Foresterhill Road, Aberdeen , AB25 2ZP   Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Stand at Douglas, Isle of Man

Stand to promote BLS Awareness Week at the Strand Shopping Centre, Isle of Man, 10.00 – 4.00

Dates: 25 April 2009
Address: Strand Shopping Centre, Douglas, Isle of Man,   Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Stand at Cheltenham General Hospital

Stand with posters and information aimed at Health Care Professionals.

Dates: 27 April 2009
Address: Dining Room, Cheltenham General Hospital, 11am to 3pm,   Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

Stand at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital

Stand with posters and information aimed at Health Care Professionals

Dates: 30 April 2009
Address: Canteen, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, 11am to 3pm,   Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

British Lymphology Society Conference 11-13 October 2009 ‘Back to Basics – the next steps’

This year we want to focus on the everyday problems that we all face in our practice, embracing inter- and multi-disciplinary working with other Health Care Professionals. We aim to address a variety of subjects including surgical intervention in lymphoedema, management of the bariatric patient and patients with chronic oedema as well as looking at the results of prevention initiatives for patients at risk of developing lymphoedema following a breast cancer diagnosis, the potential for interventions such as Dragon Boat racing for patients with cancer and the management of head, neck and facial lymphoedema.

Attending whole conference - £275
Conference fees include tea, coffee & lunch on Monday & Tuesday with evening buffet on Sunday & Gala Dinner on Monday evening.

Attending 1 day only (Monday or Tuesday) - £160
Day rate includes tea, coffee & lunch.

Attending Sunday only - No Charge

EARLY BIRD BOOKING: 10% discount off full conference fee / day rate if booking made up to & including 1st July 2009

The BLS Conference Application form is available from the BLS office and the website. Closing date for applications is 11th September 2009.

Dates: 11-13 October 2009
Address: Royal Victoria Hotel, Victoria Station Road, Sheffield S4 7YE,   Event Map Link
Contact: 01242 695007 or email info@thebls.com

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