Rheumatology at Queen Elizabeth Hospital
The Rheumatology Department provides treatment and care to patients with diseases of the musculoskeletal system – bone, joint and connective tissue disease.
Our team of dedicated doctors and nurses provide expert care and treatment for many types of rheumatic and arthritis disease.
COVID-19 update
Download information on corornavirus for rheumatology patients
- The COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance, is a large group of academics, clinicians, and patients working together to collect, analyse and disseminate information about COVID-19 and rheumatology to patients, physicians and other relevant groups. The goal is to improve the care of patients with rheumatic disease and better understand the patient experience during the COVID 19 pandemic.
- All rheumatologists are invited to complete the international COVID-19 Global Alliance Rheumatology Registry for Rheumatology patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Detailed information about the registry is available via the following website: https://rheum-covid.org/
- All rheumatology patients are invited to complete the international COVID-19 Global Alliance Rheumatology Patient Survey, whether or not they have been diagnosed with COVID-19. It is a voluntary patient survey. Detailed information and the patient survey is available via the following website: https://rheum-covid.org/patient-survey/
Location
The Rheumatology Department is based in Area A of the Outpatient Department at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Contact details
You can contact us on the following numbers:
Appointments: T: 020 8333 3216
Nurse Helpline: T: 020 8836 6932
E-Mail: lg.qehrheumatologynurses@nhs.net
Dr Dolan’s secretary: T: 020 8836 4914
E-mail: lg.qehrheumatology@nhs.net
Dr Coakley’s secretary: T: 020 8836 4923
E-mail: lg.qehrheumatology@nhs.net
Dr Mathews’ secretary: T: 020 8836 4914
E-mail: lg.qehrheumatology@nhs.net
Osteoporosis Nurse: T: 020 8836 4328
E-mail: lorrainestork@nhs.net
What conditions do we treat?
We see patients with a range of conditions, including the following:
- Inflammatory arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis associated with psoriasis and ankylosing spondylitis
- Connective tissue disease – Lupus, Sjogren’s syndrome, Scleroderma, Vasculitis including Granulomatous Polyangiitis (formerly Wegener’s Granulomatosis), Eosinophilic Polyangiitis (formerly Churg-Strauss syndrome) Behcet’s disease and temporal arteritis
- Polymyalgia Rheumatica
- Gout
- Sarcoidosis
- Fibromyalgia
- Osteoporosis
- Paget’s Disease
What services do we provide?
We have five dedicated clinic rooms and a dedicated infusion suite and run general rheumatology clinics and other specialist clinics. We provide all of the following:
- daily clinics, morning or afternoon, Monday to Friday
- specialist clinics in osteoporosis, connective tissue diseases such as Lupus and Sjogren’s syndrome
- rapid access service to ensure we see and assess patients with suspected inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis.
- bone density scans to assess osteoporosis and fracture risk
- a telephone helpline run by specialist nurses – offering ongoing care and support for patients diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis. Our nurses will assess and train patients requiring biologic injection therapy for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis
Who are our services for?
Our services are for patients aged 16 or over.
How can I refer to the service?
Patients will need to be referred to our services via their GP.
Key Staff
Dr Louise Dolan MA FRCP (Cantab)
Dr Dolan has been a consultant since 1996. She has a special interest in osteoporosis, inflammatory arthritis and PMR.
Dr Gerald Coakley Ph.D FRCP
Dr Coakley has been a consultant since 2000. His interests are inflammatory arthritis, Felty’s syndrome, and fibromyalgia. His research interests are in septic arthritis and clinical research in rheumatoid arthritis. He was Director of Medical Education from 2003 to 2013, and is now Chair of Education and Training and a Trustee for the British Society for Rheumatology.
Dr Catherine Mathews MSc FRCP
Dr Mathews has been a consultant since 2006. Her interests include paediatric rheumatology and young adults with inflammatory arthritis. She has a major interest in medical education, and is currently Director of Medical Education at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust.
Dr Pamela Lutalo MBChB MSc(Rheum) MRCP
Dr Lutalo has been a consultant since 2016. She has a specialist interest in connective tissue diseases, in particular systemic lupus erythematosus ( SLE ). She runs a monthly rheumatology clinic and connective tissue disease clinic at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and is primarily based at University Hospital Lewisham.
Dr Lutalo has an interest in medical education. She is the Foundation Training Programme Director at University Hospital Lewisham and is a member of the South London Rheumatology Faculty.