Rheumatology
Rheumatology is a multidisciplinary branch of medicine that deals with the investigation, diagnosis and management of patients with arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions. This incorporates over 200 disorders affecting joints, bones, muscles and soft tissues, including inflammatory arthritis and other systemic autoimmune disorders, vasculitis, soft tissue conditions, spinal pain and metabolic bone disease. A significant number of musculoskeletal conditions also affect other organ systems.
Please be advised that Rheumatology services at the L&D are now located at a new outpatient centre (Zone T) on Dunstable Road.
The new outpatient centre, Zone T, is based a few minutes away from the main hospital site. The centre is located at the M1 Junction 11 roundabout, behind the petrol station, adjacent to Travelodge. The entrance is on Belpur Avenue.
The Rheumatology Department at the L&D provides a comprehensive general and specialist rheumatology service to the local population and surrounding areas. Following a recent expansion the clinical staff now comprises of six Consultants, two Specialist Registrars and three Specialist Nurse Practitioners. Our team has invested in research and embraced new techniques to benefit our patients, such as ultrasound in the clinic to assist in the early diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis. In addition to the general Rheumatology Clinics we provide the following services:
Flare Clinics – For people with deteriorating inflammatory arthritis, we can offer appointments with a shorter waiting time to see a specialist.
Dedicated Helpline – patients can obtain advice from a nurse.
Biologics Clinic – to improve care for people with unremitting disease, a dedicated clinic to plan and monitor treatment with this highly effective group of drugs.
Early Arthritis Service – providing early aggressive therapy to prevent disability and improve outcomes.
Multidisciplinary Input – occupational therapy, physiotherapy and podiatry.
Health Education Sessions – to enable people to make shared decisions.
Bone Health Service – a new clinic dedicated to osteoporosis and associated conditions, along with reporting of bone density scans, providing advice on management to GPs.
Paediatric Rheumatology – regular local clinics for children and adolescent s with all forms of rheumatoid and soft tissue rheumatic conditions.
Specialist Disease Clinics – speciality disease-specific clinics are planned, along with combined clinics with allied specialities, such as Dermatology and Respiratory Medicine.
Contact us
Outpatient Appointment Department – 01582 561385
Nurse Advice Line – 01582 377868 – 9am to 11am temporarily until further notice.
You can also e-mail the Rheumatology department.
Secretaries
- Lisa: 01582 718741 – Dr Daniel Fishman, Dr Vanessa Quick, Dr Balaji Ramabhadran
- Sonia: 01582 497233 – Dr Maria Mouyis, Dr Keren Khan, Dr Muhammad Nisar
- (TBC) 01582 497464 – Dr Marian Chan, Dr Tanya Baqai
Please see below for some links to some societies and groups which you may find useful:
Arthritis Research UK
British Society for Rheumatology
Children’s Chronic Arthritis Association
Fibromyalgia
Lupus UK
National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society
National Osteoporosis Society
National Rheumatoid Arthritis Association
NICE guidance
Psoriatic Arthritis
Raynauds & Scleroderma Association