Rheumatology

The Rheumatology Department provides treatment and care to patients with diseases of the musculoskeletal system – bone, joint and connective tissue.

We provide services at both University Hospital Lewisham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

 

Who are the services for?

We see adults over the age of 16 years old from our local boroughs with a wide variety of problems including:

  • Inflammatory arthritis: Including rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis associated with psoriasis and ankylosing spondylitis.

  • Connective tissue disease: Including lupus, Sjögren’s syndrome, scleroderma, polymyositis and dermatomyositis.

  • Vasculitis: Including Wegener’s granulomatosis, polyarteritis nodosa, Behçet’s, Churg-Strauss and temporal arteritis.

  • Polymyalgia Rheumatica

  • Gout

  • Sarcoidosis

  • Osteoporosis

  • Paget’s Disease

  • Paediatric rheumatological conditions: Juvenile arthritis, juvenile connective tissue diseases, musculoskeletal and soft tissue problems (e.g. knee pain, hypermobility).

For more information on Rheumatic diseases, please visit the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions

Location and contact details

  University Hospital Lewisham  Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Location Suite 2 (1st Floor, Yellow Zone). Area A of the Outpatient Department
How can I refer to the service? Patients will need to be referred to our services via their GP. Patients will need to be referred to our services via their GP.
Appointments for new patients 020 8333 3216 020 8333 3216

We recognise the importance of responding to the individual's needs and preferences, respecting their privacy, dignity, beliefs and values. We aim to maintain or improve the quality of life for our patients and their carers. We work within the wider multi-disciplinary team, keeping the patient as the central focus of all care planning and delivery.

Members of the Rheumatology Team consist of consultant rheumatologists, trainee rheumatologists, a team of nurses led by a rheumatology nurse specialist, clinic staff and secretaries. The team also works closely with other services such as dermatology, paediatric, renal and respiratory services.

 

If you are already under the care of our Rheumatology services:

  University Hospital Lewisham Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Contact details for follow up patients

Secretary: 020 3192 6559

Email: lg.rheumatologyuhl@nhs.net

020 8836 4914 / 4923 / 4914 / 4328

Email: lg.qehrheumatology@nhs.net

Clinical Nurse Specialist helpline for existing patients with inflammatory arthritis

020 3192 6710

Email:  lg.rheumatology-cns@nhs.net

020 8836 6932

lg.qehrheumatologynurses@nhs.net

 

What else do you need to know?

When attending your new appointment, we will ask for a urine sample and you will be weighed. Please be sure to bring with you details of any medications you are currently taking.

 

Patient Support Groups

Arthritis Care
www.arthritiscare.org.uk

BackCare
www.backcare.org.uk

British Sjogren's Syndrome Association (BSSA)
www.bssa.uk.net

Fibromyalgia Association UK
www.fibromyalgia-associationuk.org

Hypermobility Syndrome Association (HMSA)
www.hypermobility.org

Lupus UK                                                                                     
www.lupusuk.org.uk

National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society (NASS)
www.nass.co.uk

National Osteoporosis Society (NOS)
www.nos.org.uk

National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) 
www.nras.org.uk