Reviewed on : 9 Aug 2018

Reviewed by : Gateway Editor

Expires : 9 Aug 2020

The West Midlands FamilialHypercholesterolaemia Service (WMFHS) was launched in November 2017

Covers the whole of the West Midlands region: Birmingham, Solihull, The Black Country, Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Staffordshire

Patients with suspected FH should be referred to the primary care service and genetic testing will be undertaken if indicated

Patients with confirmed monogenic FH will be referred to UHCW by the FH nurse for cardiac risk assessment

The FH nurse will also facilitate cascade testing for relatives and this also includes children

Patients with confirmed polygenic hypercholesterolaemia should be managed in primary care in accordance with NICE CG181 guidelines. It is anticipated that this will result in a reduction in FH referrals to secondary care with only those with confirmed FH being referred

Referral criteria:

Pretreatment Total Cholesterol 9 mmols/L or more

To identify a genetic mutation.

Consider referring patients with a cholesterol greater than 7.5mmol/l (see Simon Broome FH Wales Criteria)

Clinics

All clinics are held in primary care (GP practices only) across the region

This can be close to their home or their place of work.

Waiting times are usually 2 – 3 weeks, this may increase as referrals increase

The service can review patients for genetic testing prexisting diagnosis of FH based on the Simon Broome criteria.

Current clinic locations:

• Forum Health Centre (Inspires) Coventry
• Woodend Health Centre (Godiva) Coventry
• Market Quarter Practice (Rugby) Rugby

Please send completed referral forms to WestMidlands.fhnurses@nhs.net