Rheumatology

The rheumatology department, based at The James Cook University Hospital, is among the best in the North East.

It includes an outpatient unit and day unit with integrated rehabilitation services including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry and with support from appliances/orthotics. The rheumatology consultants have access to six inpatient beds if required.

The day unit has recently been enlarged and extensively refurbished to meet increasing demand.

The department also provides an open access bone densitometry service. Click here for map showing department location at James Cook

The rheumatology service at Northallerton is provided by Dr Tuck and Dr Pathare with clinics at the Friarage Hospital and an outpatient clinic at the Friary, Richmond. The department has links with the local primary care musculoskeletal service and the staff work closely with GPs and practice nurses in the area.

Outpatients

The department at James Cook runs daily outpatient clinics, in addition to other clinics in East Cleveland, Guisborough, Redcar, Whitby and Bishop Auckland.

We also have specialised nurse led clinics where disease modifying drug monitoring and education, information support and counselling are provided for patients.

The outpatient clinical nurse specialist also runs her own outpatient clinic, as well as supporting the clinics held in other hospitals.

The department has its own biologics nurse providing an assessment and monitoring service to patients requiring biologic treatments.

There is a weekly injection clinic for patients requiring joint injections in between their usual follow-up appointments.

All patients attending the department are requested to bring their appointment letter or card, and an up to date list of their medications to every visit.

Contacting the department

The department has its own telephone advice line which provides advice to patients, nursing and medical practitioners – 01642 854756.

Allied health professionals

The physiotherapy and occupational therapy services include a well equipped physiotherapy unit and comprehensive assessment kitchen and specialist splinting facility.

There is a foot assessment service with support from a wide range of clinical specialties.

Education

The department has a strong ethos of education for both staff and patients. Group education sessions are provided on a regular basis for patients with various conditions.

As well as consultant staff, other doctors working in the department include a registrar, junior doctors and GP registrars in training, and GP clinical assistants.

Special interest clinics

There are particular specialised services in the following areas:

Adolescent and young adult rheumatology

• Dr Fiona Clarke

Specialised orthopaedic combined clinics:

• Mr Rangan and Dr Plant – shoulder
• Mr Wallace and Dr Tuck – lower limb
• Mr Port and Dr Paul – lower limb
• Mr Coapes and Dr Clarke/Dr Pathare – upper limb

Metabolic bone diseases and osteoporosis

• Dr Pattman and Dr Tuck

Connective tissue diseases clinic

• Dr Plant

Early arthritis clinic

• This is a new clinic in a trial phase from Oct 2014 aiming to see and treat patients in a timely manner.

The department has a strong working relationship with Dr Ian Curzon, consultant in musculo-skeletal imaging with weekly/teaching and planning meetings.

The department has good working relationships with local universities including Durham and Teesside. Members of the department have research interests in inflammatory joint disease and osteology.

Research

There is a strong interest in musculo-skeletal research crossing orthopaedic and rheumatological boundaries linking with Teesside University. Members of the department are all actively involved in teaching and research, and we have a dedicated research nurse.

Useful links

• The British Society for Rheumatology
• Arthritis Research UK
• National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society
• National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society