Neonatal referrals

Who can refer

Emergency referrals

Most referrals into our service are emergency referrals from other neonatal units. These referrals can be made directly (see below) or through the emergency bed service.

Outpatient referrals 

Most babies are referred to our outpatient clinic following inpatient care at the neonatal unit. 

We also accept referrals from GPs:

• for babies less than 28 days old with non-urgent problems
• for babies with prolonged jaundice – see below for more information 

• for babies born prematurely or with problems in the newborn period who have moved into the Lambeth and Southwark area

How to refer

Emergency referrals

For emergency referrals for acute transfer from other neonatal units, please call:

• the attending NICU consultant on 020 7188 8847, or
• the main hospital switchboard on 020 7188 7188 and ask for nurse in charge of NICU on bleep 0687

Alternatively, contact the emergency bed service on 020 7407 4999.

Subspeciality referrals

Babies being referred for subspeciality investigation and management to Evelina London can also be made to the on call registrar for the relevant subspeciality teams.

GP referrals

For GPs referring babies less than 28 days old with non-urgent problems, please email gst-tr.GSTTNeonatalUnit@nhs.net.

Prolonged jaundice service

Our prolonged jaundice service receives around 300 referrals a year. Infants should be referred if they are still visibly jaundiced at the age of 21 days.

Midwives who are not based at Guy's and St Thomas'

Download and fill in the prolonged jaundice service referral form (Word 31KB) and email it to gst-tr.GSTTNeonatalUnit@nhs.net.

They should advise the parents or carers to present the baby to the blood test centre at Evelina London within 3 working days.

Midwives based at Guy's and St Thomas'

Make the referral after reviewing the baby in one of the community centres and email the filled referral form to ProlongedJaundiceService@gstt.nhs.uk. A blood sample for liver function and conjugated bilirubin level should be taken at the same time to spare the family a trip to hospital.

Assessment is made by the neonatal team based on the information in the referral form and the set of blood tests. Parents receive results over the phone followed by a letter.

We only review a referred infant in hospital if there is any concerning information in the initial survey (for example, poor weight gain or non-pigmented stools). Sometimes, more blood tests will be needed if the bilirubin level or its conjugated fraction are really high.

Please note that the majority of referred infants are discharged with a diagnosis of breast milk jaundice. This is a benign, self-limiting condition that may last for 12 weeks and does not need treatment.

When referring please make sure you give parents a copy of the prolonged jaundice service leaflet (PDF 90KB).