Endocrinology Service

The L&D is one of the few hospitals providing a comprehensive endocrine service, encompassing common and uncommon endocrine disorders. We work in close collaboration with endocrine surgery, paediatric endocrinology and clinical biochemistry and the endocrine team in Cambridge, Oxford and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The endocrine team runs out-patient clinics at the L&D to see new referrals and for follow-up of patients with complicated disorders. A high percentage of patients are discharged from their clinic follow-up after their acute problems have settled, but some of the complicated problems receive life long follow-up. The team also runs a consultation service for in-patients with endocrine disorders and endocrine emergencies. There is an Adult and Paediatric Endocrine Nurse Specialist, who runs nurse led follow up clinics, provides endocrine counselling to patients, pastoral care, and facilities endocrine function tests. There is also a joint endocrine adolescent clinic and outreach clinic from Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Any condition which indicates a hormonal dysfunction (thyroid, pituitary, adrenal, ovaries/testes) are seen in clinic. Other conditions seen are:

• Electrolyte and metabolic disorders
• Secondary hypertension
• Other rare disorders with a strong suspicion of endocrine cause
• Pregnant patients with endocrine problems can be seen at the request of a GP or obstetrics team

A good system of tests (requiring day admission) has reduced the need for patients travelling to Cambridge, Oxford, or Great Ormond Street Hospital for investigations or after their surgery in those centres.