Rare diseases are a significant health problem with associated poor outcomes. Rare diseases affect 1 in 2000 or fewer patients. The time in reaching a diagnosis for certain patients is considerable. The nature of services for patients with rare diseases is changing rapidly. There are major advances in testing, particularly genetic testing, which means that the “Diagnostic Odyssey” could for many patients be shortened considerably in whom a diagnosis has not yet been possible to make.
We are currently accepting paediatric and adult referrals about patients from consultant level colleagues, where the patient has the involvement of two or more systems and are suspected of having a unifying underlying diagnosis. They may have congenital malformations or dysmorphism suggestive of an underlying monogenic disorder. It is expected that reasonable investigation without identifying a diagnosis has previously been carried out.
This clinic does not take over the clinical care of the patient, that remains with the referring Consultant.
Our SWAN clinic services are primarily based in the outpatient departments at both University Hospital of Wales and Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales.
If you are accepted into the SWAN Clinic you will receive telephone call(s) from the clinical nurse specialists, genetic counsellors or the clinical fellows. They will discuss your referral, what you hope to get from the clinic, how the clinic works, and signposting to relevant services/support that you may not be aware of, to help with both your medical and non-medical unmet needs.
The SWAN Clinic is a multi-disciplinary team, comprised of many specialists with in interest in Rare Diseases, including but not limited to, genetics, immunology and paediatrics.
The SWAN Clinic also includes clinical nurse specialists, medical fellows and a genetic counsellor.
Dr Graham Shortland OBE
Consultant Paediatrician / SWAN Lead
Emily Carne
Consultant Nurse in Immunology
Hywel Williams
Bioinformatician
Should you wish to send a referral in to the SWAN Clinic, please mark them as "SWAN Referral" and send them to:
Swan.Clinic.CAV@wales.nhs.uk
Rydym yn croesawu galwadau ffôn yn Gymraeg, Saesneg a Iaith Arwyddion Prydain (BSL) via SignVideo.
We welcome phone calls in Welsh, English and British Sign Language (BSL) via SignVideo.