London Behçet’s Centre at BartsHealth
Working in partnership NHS, Behçet’s Patients Support
Working in partnership NHS, Behçet’s Patients Support
If you think you have developed symptoms of coronavirus,such as a new, continuous cough and/or high temperature (above 37.8 °C), seek immediate advice from the NHS 111 online coronavirus service (https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19/). If you do not have access to the internet, call NHS 111.
Your appointments will now be conducted over the phone. You will be notified before the appointment and told the time of the call. However as in the clinic, this may vary so make sure you have set aside most of the day.
If you are unwell with Behçet’s symptoms, we will first contact you over the telephone and decide whether you urgently need to attend a face-to-face appointment and should come in to be seen.
Regular blood test monitoring will still need to continue, and we suggest you agree with your GP how this will be undertaken whilst managing your risk. Once agreed locally you will need to ask for a copy. If your results are stable, with no change in your blood cell count, you may contact us to ask whether you may attend for monitoring blood tests less frequently.
Do not stop any of your medication. Please email us in the first instance or ring the Behçet’s helpline at the Centre of Excellence for prescription queries.
If you think you have developed symptoms of coronavirus, such as a new, continuous cough and/or high temperature (above 37.8 °C), seek immediate advice from the NHS 111 online coronavirus service (https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19/). If you do not have access to the internet, call NHS 111. Then:
1. All the medication in the list below should be stopped except your steroids, and you should contact your Behcets Centre immediately.
2. If your condition gets worse, or your symptoms do not get better after 7 days, then use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service, or call NHS 111 and tell them which medications you have been taking.
3. For medical emergencies dial 999.
People who have confirmed coronavirus (Covid-19) infection should use paracetamol in preference to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (“NSAIDs” e.g. Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Etoricoxib / Arcoxia). Those currently on daily non-steroidal drugs should not stop them.
If you have an urgent medical question relating to your Behçet’s, please contact us directly via email or by ringing the Behçet’s Helpline at the Centre of Excellence for advice. We are currently experiencing a huge volume of emails and calls which we will try and address as soon as we can. Please email in the first instance.
London:
email: Bhnt.londonbehcetscentre@nhs.net
telephone: 0203594611020; 02035946087
To help the NHS provide you with the best care if you need to go to hospital as a result of catching coronavirus, we ask that you prepare a single hospital bag:
This should include your emergency contact, a list of the medications you take (including dose and frequency), any information on future appointments, and things you would need for an overnight stay (snacks, pyjamas, toothbrush, medication, mobile phone and charger, etc). If you have an advance care plan, please include that. (This is a written statement that sets out your wishes about your future care).
We understand that this may be a worrying time, and that you may find staying at home and having limited contact challenging.
For those that need support the London and Liverpool clinical Psychologists will be undertaking telephone consultations. Please email so that they may assess your need. You will then be contacted.
You may also find the NHS advice and support helpful from:
Every Mind Matters, or NHS mental health and wellbeing advice website