Bedford Warfarin Service

The Bedford Warfarin Service manages stable or largely uncomplicated patients over the age of 18 who have been prescribed warfarin for a medical condition, where their blood clotting time needs to be increased to prevent clots from forming. The service is part of Bedfordshire Community Health Services and is available to patients registered with a Bedford GP.  

Who we can see (inclusion criteria)

• Adults aged 18 years old
• Registered with a GP in the Bedford locality
• Housebound / Clinic  
• Patients currently in secondary care anticoagulant clinics who consent to being managed by the Bedford Warfarin Service

Who we can’t see (exclusion criteria)

• Not registered with a GP in the Bedford locality
• Under 18 years of age
• Known hereditary or acquired thrombophilia
• Known hereditary or acquired bleeding disorder
• Liver failure
• Severe renal impairment
• Documented evidence of CNS haemorrhage in the last 6 months
• Severe heart failure
• Uncontrolled severe hypertension
• History of gastro-intestinal bleeding in the last 6 months
• Pregnancy i.e confirmed/ suspected/planning (Urgent referral to appropriate Haematologist Consultant)
• Receiving chemotherapy for malignant tumours
• Homozygous protein C deficiency (risk of skin necrosis)
• Severe malnourishment due to absorption difficulties
• Mentally ill (including dementia) with no carer support in the community
• Alcoholics due to instability in anticoagulation management
• Intra Venous drug users
• Platelet count of <70
• Concomitant use of other oral anticoagulants