This service is available if you have had a rheumatology diagnosis confirmed by a rheumatologist. We provide information and support on rheumatological conditions for you as patients and medical teams/health care practitioners.
We offer support in person through nurse led clinics and day units. Telephone support is available to help patients to understand treatment aims, manage drug monitoring and to assist in managing emotional, physical and work impacts when managing a chronic disease. Referrals can be made to other healthcare professionals. We can provide you with information on other sources of information.
If you need urgent advice please contact your local community pharmacist NHS 111 or your General Practice surgery as appropriate.
You should call for advice if you:
• Require more information about your condition or treatment.
• Experience a reaction from an injection given to you in clinic.
• Feel you are having a flare in symptoms and your current medication is not managing your symptoms.
• Are experiencing any side effects from medicines prescribed to you from our clinic.
• Are prescribed Anti TNF/Biologic injections or infusions and have become unwell.
You should not call the advice line:
• For results of blood tests or investigations which were performed by, or at the request of, Rheumatology department. Please be assured that if your results are abnormal then you will be contacted by the Rheumatology team.
• For general Rheumatology advice which can wait until your next appointment.
Rheumatology Advice Line
Telephone number: 0300 3038322 (Press option 2)
The aim of this service is to be able to provide you with specialist Rheumatology advice regarding your diagnosis and treatment, including any medications prescribed to you from our clinic.
The communication hub is available Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm, Saturday 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday and Bank Holidays 10 am to 3 pm.
You will speak to an advisor, your query will be logged and where appropriate a Rheumatology nurse will then strive to contact you back. However, please be advised that we will not be able to provide a timescale for a nurse to call you back as this is not an emergency service.