Rheumatology
Rheumatology
Rheumatology is a branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the joints, bones, muscles, soft tissues, connective tissues and immune system. This includes over 200 conditions.
Welcome to the Barking Havering and Redbridge University Hospital NHS Trust. We aim to provide comprehensive high-quality management of all Rheumatological conditions, including Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Axial Spondyloarthritis, Reactive Arthritis, Gout, Connective Tissue Disorders such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Sjogren’s Syndrome and Scleroderma, Vasculitis, Myositis, Osteoporosis, Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR), Temporal Arteritis/Giant Cell Arthritis (GCA).
The core Rheumatology Team consists of consultant rheumatologists, doctors in training, specialist nurses, rheumatology practitioners, a rheumatology physiotherapist and our administrative team. We work closely with colleagues in other specialties for the management of conditions which affect multiple systems in the body. Together we strive to deliver the best possible care for our patients.
Key contact numbers
Rheumatology advice line:
Phone: 020 8970 8408
This is an answerphone service, please leave a message so we can get back to you. Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm.
This is not an emergency service, if you have an emergency, please call NHS 111.
Central appointments:
Phone: 020 8970 5700
Access Issues Resolution Service
Phone: 020 8970 5704
Email: bhrut.airs@nhs.net
Website: https://www.bhrhospitals.nhs.uk/airs
Key staff
Our consultants
- Dr Rehab Adam
- Dr Francis Borg
- Dr Louise Daniel
- Dr Shabina Habibi
- Dr Fiona Hayes
- Dr Aman Khan
- Dr Myo Lynn
- Dr Neil Perera
- Dr Philip Stapleton
- Dr Thushani Wickramaratne
- Dr Sharmista Williams (Associate Specialist)
Our junior doctors
- Dr Fatima Ahmed
- Dr Si-Thu Aung
- Dr Sumak Chowdhury
- Rheumatology Registrar
- GP Trainees
Our rheumatology nurses
- Ratidzo Maboreke (Lead nurse)
- Victoria Katsande
- Michelle Guevarra Apal
- Diana Turcsany
- Patricia Lewis
- Joey Heo
- Durk Cabrera
- Sariyu Mogaji
- Dee Tomasso (osteoporosis specialist nurse)
Our rheumatology pharmacist
- Sajid Master
Our rheumatology physiotherapist
- Kristi Hutton
Preparing for your rheumatology appointment
All clinics
Please bring your appointment letter and a list of your current medications.
You should allow at least 30 minutes for parking.
You will have a set of observations on arrival for your appointment and will be asked to produce a urine specimen, so please ask the clinic nurse for a specimen pot if you need to use the toilet before this has happened.
Early arthritis clinics
You will be sent a form to complete before attending your appointment. This collects information about your previous medical history, medications and the impact your symptoms are having on your daily life and work.
You will also be asked to attend for a blood tests and x-rays at least one week prior to your appointment, to allow more comprehensive assessment of your condition when you are seen in clinic.
Our hospitals and clinics
Our hospitals:
King George Hospital
Queen's Hospital
Brentwood Community Hospital
Our clinics are held across a number of sites including Queen's Hospital, King George Hospital and Brentwood Community Hospital.
Nurse-led-clinics for drug counselling and drug reviews, for both disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biological treatments with consultant supervision, are running daily at both Queen’s and King George hospitals.
Early Inflammatory Arthritis Clinics (service lead, Dr Louise Daniels)
These clinics are run daily at either King George Hospital, Queen’s Hospital or Brentwood Community Hospital for the rapid assessment (we aim to see patients within three weeks of referral) and treatment of patients with symptoms suggestive of a new onset inflammatory arthritis.
GPs should please make a referral through Advice and Refer (as for all referrals and queries to Rheumatology).
Please ensure the new EIA referral form is included to allow appropriate triage of these referrals.
Fracture Liaison Service (run by Dee Tomasso osteoporosis specialist nurse and Dr Thushani Wickramaratne)
This service aims to identify patients who are at risk of secondary fractures and osteoporosis. A DEXA scan will be arranged as necessary and patients are followed up the same day in nurse-led clinics.
We provide a telephone advice line Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Please leave a message and the team will get back to you as soon as they can. Please note that the advice line can be very busy, and it may take a little longer for the team to get back to you.
Making a referral to our service
Information for GPs
BHRUT Early Inflammatory Arthritis (EIA) Clinic Referral Form [docx] 31KB
Advice and Guidance requests are answered by our consultant team as promptly as possible. Please check the 'covert to appointment' box so that we can book your patient for an appointment, if the consultant feels this is appropriate, without delaying the patient pathway.
Appointment requests are reviewed and booked in order of acuity; and then date of referral. We do have a significant volume of appointment requests. Please consider submitting an Advice and Guidance request if you're unsure, so we can expedite a response for your patient.
Hydrotherapy
There is no hydrotherapy service currently available to the Trust. Local swimming pools will run aqua aerobics sessions which may be of benefit. Please contact your local swimming pool for details.
Some useful resources on hydrotherapy and water-based exercise:
Hydrotherapy information from NASS (National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society)
Useful links and support information
Support and further information:
Arthritis Self-help Network London www.arthritis-selfhelp.org
British Sjogren's Syndrome Association http://www.bssa.uk.net/
Disability Employment Advisers (Your Jobcentre and Jobcentre Plus office can put you in touch with your local Disability Employment Advisor)
Ehlers Danlos Support UK The Ehlers-Danlos Support UK | UK Charity for EDS and HSD
Fibromyalgia Association UK (FMA UK) www.fibromyalgia-associationuk.org
Lupus UK www.lupusuk.org.uk
National Axial Spondyloarithritis Society (NSAA) Homepage | National Axial Spondyloarthritis Society and Act on axial SpA - reducing time to diagnosis
National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) www.nras.org.uk
NHS quit smoking Quit smoking - Better Health - NHS
Patient Advice Liaison Service (PALS) Situated by the main entrance at both King George and Queen's Hospital.
Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance (PAPAA) www.papaa.org.uk
Royal Osteoporosis Society Royal Osteoporosis Society - Better Bone Health for Everybody
Raynaud’s and Scleroderma Association www.raynauds.org
National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) www.nras.org.uk
National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society (NASS) www.nass.co.uk
Raynaud’s and Scleroderma Association www.raynauds.org
National Osteoporosis Society www.nos.org.uk
Vasculitis UK About Vasculitis Disease and the Various Types of Vasculitis - Vasculitis UK
Versus Arthritis www.versusarthritis.org