Rheumatology in Lewisham

The Rheumatology Team are devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions including arthritis as well as autoimmune diseases such as lupus.

We aim to provide a high quality, comprehensive musculoskeletal service for local residents.

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 at University Hospital Lewisham include consultant rheumatologists, trainee rheumatologists, a team of nurses led by a rheumatology nurse specialist, clinic staff and secretaries. The team also works closely with the paediatric, renal and respiratory services.

Location

The Rheumatology Clinic is based at University Hospital Lewisham in Suite 2 (1^st Floor, Yellow Zone).

Contact Details

For people who are new to our department and have a query about their appointment we ask that you contact appointments on 020 8333 3000 (Ext 33216).

If you are already under the care of the Rheumatology Department and have a general query or need to rearrange your appointment please ring the rheumatology secretaries on 020 8333 3000 (Ext 26559/26215).

For patients with inflammatory arthritis under follow up with the Rheumatology Department and experiencing problems, there is a helpline number which is manned by our specialist nurse. If the specialist nurse is unavailable we ask that you leave a message on the answer phone and the specialist nurse will call you back. The helpline number is 020 8333 3000 (Ext 48356) or email Deborah.johnson3@nhs.net.

Who are the services for?

We see people 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
Fibromyalgia
Osteoporosis
Paget’s Disease
Paediatric rheumatological conditions: Juvenile arthritis, juvenile connective tissue diseases, musculoskeletal and soft tissue problems (e.g. knee pain, hypermobility)

What services are provided?

We have rheumatology clinics which run in the mornings from Monday to Friday. In addition to general rheumatology clinics we also have specialist clinics where we see people with connective tissue disease twice a month and combined clinics where we see people with our colleagues from the respiratory and renal departments. There is also a weekly injection clinic.

For children with musculoskeletal problems we have a twice-monthly paediatric clinic where patients are seen by a consultant rheumatologist, consultant paediatrician and a specialist physiotherapist.

How can you get a referral?

Patients are referred to the Rheumatology Department by their general practitioner (GP). Once the referral is received patients will receive an appointment to attend University Hospital Lewisham with details of the day and time of the appointment.

Why else do you need to know?

When attending your appointment please book in directly in Suite 2. If you are attending for a 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.