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 (inflammation of the eye glands)
• temporal arteritis (inflammation of the arteries) and polymyalgia rheumatica (inflammation in muscles around the shoulders, neck and hips)
• vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels)
• myositis (muscle inflammation)
• bone problems such as metabolic bone disease and osteoporosis.

Patients with suspected inflammatory arthritis are fast-tracked and will be seen within three weeks of referral in our Early Inflammatory Arthritis service. We also see patients with non-inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis, complicated back pain, regional joint pain and chronic pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia.

Location

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

Contact Details

• Main Reception: +44 (0)20 3299 8979
• Rheumatology Nurse Helpline: +44 (0)20 3299 1866
• Rheumatology Outpatient Appointments: +44 (0)20 3299 1919
• Rheumatology Outpatients Reception (Suite 3): +44 (0)20 3299 1527

Patient Information Leaflets

• Muscle biopsy
• Footcare for patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Conditions we treat

Our Rheumatology service sees patients with the following conditions:

• 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 (available below). The Early Inflammatory Arthritis service aims to see patients within three weeks of referral.

• 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.
  • Manage primary and secondary causes such as Pagets, osteomalacia, hyperparathyroidism and recurrent renal stones
• 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 e-Referral Service. Please see the e-referral page for more information.

Other ways to refer

Routine Referrals

All routine referrals from Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham should be directed to MCATS using the appropriate MCATS referral form (below).

Email other routine referrals to kch-tr.kchreferrals@nhs.net or post them to: Rheumatology Department, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS

Metabolic bone and osteoporosis clinic - fast track bone density scans for secondary prevention also available. Please email referrals to kch-tr.kchreferrals@nhs.net.

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 email kch-tr.kchreferrals@nhs.net, stating the urgency.

Please make early arthritis referrals using the Lambeth and Southwark Early Arthritis referral form (below).

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:

• MCATS referral form - Southwark
• MCATS and MSK referral form - Lambeth
• Lambeth and Southwark early arthritis referral form

Key Clinical Staff