Department of Rheumatology  

Your services / Services we Provide for Adults and Old People / Services - Department of Rheumatology

Who we are

The Department of Rheumatology is a Consultant led service, designed around a team approach to patient care.  The team includes lots of different professionals working together - 3 Consultant Rheumatologists, Advanced Rheumatology Practitioners (experienced healthcare professional with extended additional specialist skills and knowledge), GP with Special Interest, Specialist Rheumatology Nurse, Therapy Team (Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Podiatry and Counselling), Outpatient Nursing Sister, Healthcare Assistants and Pharmacists.

 

Patients may be seen by any one or often more than one of the members of the team but not necessarily always the Consultants themselves.  However, the Consultant will always oversee and be responsible for each patient’s care.

  

 

How the Team works

The overall aim of our service is:

 

  • To provide rapidly accessible community focused care for people with a rheumatological disease.  This is provided by a consultant led Multi Disciplinary Team (MDT), based within community healthcare premises.
  • To support GPs and other healthcare staff, in the identification of patients with rheumatological disease and in the continuing care of people with less complex rheumatological conditions or during times of stability.
  • To provide expertise to in-patients at Royal Bolton Hospital with rheumatological needs, giving direct care to patients and supporting other clinicians in their care.
  •  To focus on the needs of the service user, providing appropriate, agreed and timely intervention as required but minimising and avoiding, where possible, any unnecessary clinic appointments, hospital admission or hospital based intervention, thereby managing a patient’s health and well-being in a care closer to home or home environment.

What do we offer?

The Department of Rheumatology serves the needs of persons with a rheumatological and / or bone health condition, such as for example; inflammatory arthritis, connective tissue disorder, fibromyalgia, Ankylosing spondylitis, Osteoporosis, Pagets disease.

 

The service offers fast access (under 4 weeks) to specialist assessment and diagnosis. Plans of care are developed and agreed with each patient in line with each person’s individual need, to assist them to effectively manage their condition and enable a positive coping mechanism to develop.

 

Relevant members of the Multi Disciplinary Team provide elements of healthcare in a coordinated manner at different times during the patient journey. Healthcare is predominantly delivered in an Out-Patient setting, but occasional home visits are made if there is an identified need and In-Patient care is provided when needed.  Healthcare is determined through assessment and may included such as: -

 

  • An opportunity to discuss pain and recognise factors and activities, which increase pain, and assist in identifying methods, which alleviate pain and discomfort.
  • Prescribed medication and medication reviews.
  • Advice on the relationship between rest, exercise, relaxation, posture and its link to pain prevention and pain relief.
  • Pain relief modalities e.g. injection therapy, acupuncture and self help strategies.
  • Advice on joint protection and the benefits of exercise to maintain and enhance mobility/function.
  • Information and support in relation to the nature of the disease progression, how this may affect lifestyle and the longer-term management of rheumatic disease.
  • Education on how to identify symptoms relating to the person’s particular disease and how to manage any flare up of a rheumatological condition
  • Advice on good foot care and the benefits of wearing well fitting footwear, with assessment of gait and provision of orthotic insoles (biomechanics), where appropriate.
  • The opportunity to discuss any fears and anxieties relating to condition and health care.
  • Advice on the use of special equipment to assist with activities of daily living

Support to Professionals

GPs and their primary care teams are supported in their knowledge of the disease process, treatment regimes and the long term management of Rheumatological/bone health conditions, through readily available contact and advice from within the department, education programmes and clinic reports. The Rheumatology GP with Special Interest takes the dept lead in education and support to primary care.

 

The service also provides in-reach to the Royal Bolton Hospital Trust to support other clinicians in specialist rheumatological care

 

The Department of Rheumatology undertakes Consultant-led research to further the development and introduction of evidence-based healthcare across the NHS.


 

How to access the service

Referrals are made by GPs and other healthcare professionals, such as Consultants in other specialities.

Referrals for Out Patient appointments are made through the Chhoose and Book electornic system or by written referral to the Choose and Book Centre ( Referral , booking and Management Service). A choice of appointments across Mon – Fri are offered and agreed with each patient. The majority of Out Patient appointments are provided at Lever chambers Centre for Healtth with some also provided at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Referrals for In Patients at the Royal Bolton Hospital are made by the medical staff through use of fax, telephone or by direct contact with the bleep holding consultant (day time Mon-Fri).

 

 

 

Contacting the Service:

Department of Rheumatology

Lever Chambers Centre for Health

Ashburner Street.

Bolton.

BL1 1SQ

 

Rhuematology Tel: 01204 462727

Rheumatology Advice Line: 01204 462720

 

Rheumatology Team