Dermatology
The following information sheet is for Dermatology patients starting tablet or injection treatment, who have been referred to the Dermatology telephone monitoring clinic
(Monittel clinic) at James Cook University Hospital.
Monittel clinics are currently held on Monday afternoons and Tuesday mornings and afternoons.
Why have I been provided with this leaflet?
This leaflet explains what you need to know for the safe monitoring of your medication.
Why is monitoring required?
When you start a new medication, close monitoring of your blood test results is crucial. This enables us to detect side effects early and act on them in a timely fashion. You will be expected to engage with the Monittel team members at regular intervals. This is important for your safety whilst receiving treatment.
Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) about your tablet or injection treatment
Your responsible consultant or clinician should have provided you with a link to a Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) about your treatment. If you have not read the PIL, please ask a member of staff for this to ensure you are familiar with your therapy.
Blood forms for monitoring and where to take them
Your consultant or clinician will provide you with the relevant blood forms that you need for all your monitoring bloods.
It is your responsibility to contact your GP surgery to arrange appointments to do the tests as instructed. Some GP practices may not have facilities for taking blood tests on site and they will direct you to their allocated phlebotomy (blood taking) hubs.
If you have been seen at the University Hospital of North Tees, University Hospital of Hartlepool, or the Friarage Hospital, you can use the dedicated phlebotomy service in these hospitals. For this, no prior appointment is needed, but you must take your blood form with you.
Please make note of the opening times:
- University Hospital of North Tees phlebotomy service (Main Outpatients):
Monday to Friday 08:45 to 12:45; 13:30 to 17:00
Saturday 08:30 to 11:30 (in Orthopaedic Department). - University Hospital of Hartlepool phlebotomy service (near Main Reception):
Monday to Friday 08:45 to 12:45; 13:30 to 16:30 - Friarage Hospital phlebotomy service (Main Outpatients):
Monday to Friday 09:00 to 13:00; 14:00 to 16:00
If it is difficult to get your bloods done through the above outlined routes, you can be booked into the Monitblood clinic which is held on Wednesday mornings and Thursday afternoons at the Dermatology Outpatient department at James Cook University Hospital.
How often do I need to do my blood tests?
For Methotrexate, Mycophenolate Mofetil, Azathioprine and Ciclosporin you will have your first blood tests after 2 weeks of starting your medication, then every 2 weeks for 4 more weeks. In other words, you will have blood tests every 2 weeks for the first 6 weeks. This will be followed by monthly blood tests thereafter.
For Dapsone, the first blood test will be 1 week after you start taking the medication then weekly for 3 more weeks; followed by fortnightly bloods in the second month; then monthly thereafter.
NB: Sometimes we may ask you to get your bloods taken more frequently than this, especially if there has been an abnormality detected in your blood test or you have other health conditions that puts you at higher risk of side effects.
Why is it important to get my blood tests regularly and to answer phone calls from the Monittel clinic
You may not be aware of abnormalities in your blood tests as they may not cause symptoms and this is why it is important that you get your bloods checked regularly. Most of time, we will send out an appointment letter to inform you of the date and time when you will be contacted or seen.
Please be aware that if or when we phone you, the number may appear as a ‘withheld’ or ‘private number.’ It is your responsibility to inform us of any change in your contact number or address so that our records are up to date.
Important
If you fail to have your blood tests taken on two consecutive occasions or fail to answer you planned monittel telephone appointments twice in row, this will be regarded as non-engagement with the Monittel service.
As a result, you will be discharged from our monitoring clinic and your responsible consultant or clinician will be informed. It is likely that you will then be discharged from the Dermatology service.
What happens next?
Once you have been established on the medication and are stable, we will formally ask your GP if they will agree to continue your blood test monitoring and prescriptions (‘share the care’).
Receiving this information sheet serves as an acknowledgement that you have read ALL the above points and agree to commit to the requirements of your monitoring.
How do I contact the Monittel clinic team?
If you have questions in relation to monitoring clinics, please contact us on telephone: 01642 854149 or alternatively please email us on [email protected]
Please specify the subject of your query for example: – ‘’Monittel query” so we can respond to your email as efficiently as possible. Please note emails will not be monitored over the weekend and bank holidays, for anything urgent please contact your consultant’s secretary.
Patient experience
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust would like your feedback. If you wish to share your experience about your care and treatment or on behalf of a patient, please contact The Patient Experience Department who will advise you on how best to do this.
This service is based at The James Cook University Hospital but also covers the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, our community hospitals and community health services.
To ensure we meet your communication needs please inform the Patient Experience Department of any special requirements, for example; braille or large print.
T: 01642 835964
E: [email protected]