An Early Arthritis Clinic opened on the 31th January 2012 for patients with a possible new diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis. This will enable patients to be seen by the rheumatology team for early diagnosis, education on Rheumatoid Arthritis, its treatment and monitoring.
Our medical day unit is now based at the Lister hospital on the Heralded unit opposite main outpatients. The rheumatology team utilises this department on a Wednesday in order to administer various rheumatological treatments.
Our rheumatology team are looking to set up a annual review nurse led clinic for patients with an inflammatory arthritis. Patients with a mild inflammatory arthritis whose disease is well controlled will be offered this service. Those attending this clinic will be seen every two years by a Rheumatology nurse practitioner and alternate years by the Consultant Rheumatologist. Those who develop any problems while attending this clinic will be offered an earlier appointment with their Consultant Rheumatologist as part of our rapid access appointment system.
The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) are supporting our department in setting up a patient’s forum for those with an inflammatory arthritis. If you would like to share experiences, achievements and coping strategies with people of the same condition then contact Michelle Want rheumatology secretary on 01438 285399.
Our rheumatology team runs an education session for patients with a new diagnosis of an inflammatory arthritis and their families. These sessions are held twice yearly and have been very successful in the past. Those who have previously attended found the sessions to be informative. If you have been recently diagnosed with an inflammatory arthritis and would like further information about these sessions then contact Michelle Want Rheumatology secretary on 01438 285399.
Keep checking back on the website, which will be evolving over the next few months. We hope to produce some video recordings of the talks from our patient education session that will actually be available to watch on line under the “Information for Patients” section, so stay tuned.
