Rheumatology

Our rheumatology service cares for people with:

We work closely with our colleagues in the musculoskeletal physiotherapy service, pain management, imaging, trauma and orthopaedics, paediatrics and podiatry.

Clinics

Our team of consultants, registrars and a specialist nurse care for adults in outpatient clinics at The Whittington Hospital. We also see hospital inpatients and urgent referrals from GPs and the emergency department.

 

New patients with symptoms of joint inflammation (redness, warmth and swelling) can benefit from our fast access early arthritis clinic. If appropriate, your GP will refer you directly to this clinic for urgent assessment.

Our specialist nurse provides education, advice (including over the phone) and follow-up monitoring for patients who are being treated with disease modifying or biologic medication.

Our dedicated clinic phlebotomist will do your blood tests without the need for another appointment.

Specially trained physiotherapists, known as ‘extended scope practitioners’, can investigate and treat certain musculoskeletal symptoms in hospital and in clinics set up in the community. They provide assessment, physiotherapy advice and give joint and soft tissue injections.

 

Depending on your condition, your extended scope practitioner may refer you to our rheumatology service (or to another service at the hospital) for further investigations and treatment.

 

You can be referred by your GP or refer yourself directly. Find out more on our musculoskeletal physiotherapy website.

Transitional care for young people

Patients being treated by us and receiving disease modifying or biologic therapy can contact 020 7288 5257 to speak to our specialist nurse.

GPs and healthcare professionals seeking urgent referrals, reviews and advice can phone 020 7288 3070 and ask for bleep 3088 to speak to a rheumatology specialist registrar.

 

GPs and healthcare professionals can phone 020 7288 5259 about patients being treated by us and leave a message for a call-back from one of our clinicians.

 

GPs can email us at askrheumatology.whitthealth@nhs.net with routine questions about patients not yet known to us, or about blood and radiology results. Emails are answered within 48 hours.