Rheumatology

What we do

Rheumatologists diagnose and treat conditions affecting the joints and muscles. The rheumatology team includes doctors, specialist nurses , physiotherapists, podiatrists and a liaison psychiatrist. The department is actively involved in research.

We provide treatment and continuing care for inflammatory conditions including:

• inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis
• gout and pseudogout
• connective tissue diseases, such as SLE (lupus) and Sjogren's syndrome
• temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica
• vasculitis.
  

We also see patients with non-inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis, complicated back pain, regional joint pain and chronic pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia.

To change an appointment, please call Rheumatology outpatients appointments.

Location

Suite 3, Golden Jubilee Wing, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS

Contact Details

• Main Reception: +44 (0)20 3299 1731
• Rheumatology Outpatients Appointments: +44 (0)20 3299 1919

Patient Information Leaflets

Conditions we treat

Our clinics see patients with:

• Inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, seronegative spondyloarthropathies, undifferentiated inflammatory arthritis, sarcoidosis, reactive arthritis, crystal arthritis (gout/pseudogout). Patients with suspected inflammatory arthritis should be referred urgently using the early arthritis referral form.
• Connective tissue disease such as SLE (lupus), Sjogren's syndrome, scleroderma, myositis, anti-phospholipid syndrome.
• Vasculitis such as temporal arteritis/polymyalgia rheumatica, Wegener's granulomatosis, Churg-Strauss syndrome.
• Non-inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis, complicated back pain, regional joint pain and soft tissue conditions, carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease.
• Chronic pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia.
  

What is required before referring a patient

In the case of suspected inflammatory arthritis, referrals should not be delayed by investigations.

Booking a patient at King's

Appointments for this service are made via the national Choose and Book system. Please see the Choose and Book page for more information.

Other ways to refer

Routine Referrals

All routine referrals from Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham PCTs should be directed to MCATS using the MCATS referral forms.

Other routine referrals may be sent to:
King's Outpatients Appointments Department or Rheumatology Department
King's College Hospital
Denmark Hill
London SE5 9RS

Emergency Referrals

We provide a 24-hour registrar on call service, supported by a consultant. For advice or to arrange urgent review or admission, please call switchboard 0203 299 9000 and ask to speak to the on-call Rheumatology Registrar.

To arrange for a patient to be seen within two weeks, please fax an urgent referral to the Rheumatology Department: 020 3299 1734.

Please make early arthritis referrals using the Early Arthritis referral form.

Other Queries

For advice and guidance for referrals, please call switchboard on 020 3299 9000 and ask to speak to the on-call Rheumatology Registrar.

Referral Forms

Please complete the relevant form and note any pre-consultation investigations required:

• Lambeth & Southwark early arthritis referral form
• Lambeth MCATS referral form - peripheral
• Lambeth MCATS referral form - spinal
• Southwark MCATS Referral form - peripheral
• Southwark MCATS Referral form - spinal

Key Clinical Staff