Rheumatology

Our Rheumatology department looks after people who suffer from diseases affecting their joints, bones and muscles. The service we offer covers:

• General Rheumatology clinics
• Inflammatory arthritis, such as Rheumatoid arthritis and Psoriatic arthritis
• Various auto-immune conditions, such as SLE, Sjogren's Syndrome, Scleroderma and Polymyositis
• Inflammatory back pain and Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Vasculitis such as Giant Cell Arteritis and other forms of systemic vasculitis
• Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone clinic

We are able to prescribe current drugs for managing inflammatory arthritis, connective tissue disease and osteoporosis. 

We also have strong links with other departments such as Radiology (x-ray) and immunology to help manage our patients' conditions.

 

Clinics

General Rheumatology Clinics are provided at both Epsom and St Helier hospitals. 

We offer a monthly young adult clinic for patients between 16 and 24 years old. 

We offer a weekly bone clinic for metabolic bone disorders and osteoporosis. 

Nurse-led clinics support the management of patients with inflammatory arthropathies and those using biologic agents. 

Early Inflammatory arthritis Clinic for patients with suspected new onset Rheumatoid arthritis and Psoriatic arthritis with access to ultrasound

 

Key staff

• Dr Ritu Malaiya consultant rheumatologist 

• Dr Fazal Sheikh, consultant rheumatologist

• Dr Mehdi Mirzadazeh, consultant in metabolic medicine

• Dr Ahmed Hassan, locum consultant rheumatologist

• Dr Luay Zebouni, Locum consultant Rheumatologist

• Josephine Walmsley, clinical nurse specialist in rheumatology

• Valeria Degennaro, clinical nurse specialist in rheumatology

• Specialist trainee in rheumatology (rotating post)

• GP trainee in rheumatology (rotating post)

• Rheumatology Registrar (Rotating post)

• Sue Leach, patient pathway coordinator

• Amanda Crick, patient pathway coordinator

• Zoe Maunsell, patient pathway coordinator

• Sue Brough, patient pathway coordinator

• Sarita Wagay, Biologics coordinator

 

Opening hours

Monday - Friday, 8.30am - 5pm

 

Contact details

Epsom and St Helier hospitals Rheumatology Department

Appointments: 020 8296 2968
Secretaries: 020 8296 2473
POD email address: rheumatology-sth@nhs.net
Nurses Advice line: 020 8296 2191

 

GP Referral Information:

British Society of Rheumatology Referral Guidelines for GPs

The BSR have published updated Referral guidelines for GPs. These guidelines list the conditions for which GPs can refer to Rheumatology and the conditions which should not be referred to Rheumatology as they can be managed in primary care or should be referred to alternative specialties. 

 https://www.rheumatology.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/Policy/Adult-rheumatology-referral-guidance.pdf?ver=2021-10-05-142645-127 

 

Information regarding Pain and Fibromyalgia Referrals

Fibromyalgia and chronic pain can be diagnosed and managed in primary care. Most patients can be referred directly to Pain management clinics and do not need to be referred to Rheumatology. South West London CCG Rheumatology Network have devised a Widespread Chronic Pain Triage  Widespread Pain Pathway [pdf] 208KB

The Royal College of Physicians have produced extensive guidance to help GPs diagnose and manage Fibromyalgia in primary care. https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/guidelines-policy/diagnosis-fibromyalgia-syndrome

 

 Early Inflammatory Arthritis clinic

GPs are advised to submit a completed "Early Inflammatory Arthritis (EIA) referral form" along with referral letter when referring patients with for Suspected Early Inflammatory Arthritis.  

Rheumatology Referral Form for Suspected Early Inflammatory Arthritis [docx] 19KB

This form should be completed and submitted along with referral letter for all referrals for "suspected early inflammatory arthritis". 

Please see ESTH Rheumatology Directory of Service on ERS.

 

Suspected Giant Cell Arteritis

GPs should refer these patients urgently (same-day) by calling the Rheumatology on-call Consultant or Registrar via telephone during working hours 0900-16:45 Monday- Friday (via hospital switchboard 0208 296 2000 bleep 490). Outside these hours, patients should be referred to the Medical Registrar on-call via hospital switchboard (Telephone no. 0208 296 2000) GCA pathway [pdf] 146KB

Patients with visual symptoms should be referred same day to the Urgent Eye Casualty Acute Eye clinic at St Helier Hospital (Telephone no. 0208 296 3817) during Monday to Friday 08:30-16:30. Outside these hours the on-call ophthalmology service for South West Thames is based at St George’s Hospital and operates after 5pm weekdays, at weekends and on bank holidays. The on-call Ophthalmology team should be contacted via St. Georges Hospital switchboard number 020 8672 1255.

 

Useful Websites and information for patients:

Important information regarding COVID-19 Vaccination

If you have already had your 3rd dose "for people with a severely weakened immune system", you will be eligible for a 4^th dose (booster), 3 months after your 3rd dose and a 5^th dose (booster), 3 months after your 4^th dose. 

If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you will need to wait 4 weeks (28 days) before having the vaccine booster. 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine-people-with-severely-weakened-immune-system/

You will need your NHS number to book your appointments.

1. You can attend a walk-in vaccination centre offering boosters to receive this booster dose without booking an appointment. You can find a vaccination centre by visiting the following link  

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/find-a-walk-in-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-site/ 

2. You can book online by visiting the following link
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine-people-with-severely-weakened-immune-system

3. If you do not have internet access or have difficulty booking online, you can also book your vaccination appointment by calling 119.

You will need to bring with you either of the following to the vaccination centre, when you attend for your booster vaccination:

1. A letter from your GP or Rheumatology specialist team inviting you for an additional 3rd primary dose or booster
2. A hospital letter that describes the condition or treatment that caused you to have a severely weakened immune system.
3. A prescription or a medicine box with your name and the date showing when the medicine was prescribed which shows that you had a severely weakened immune system at the time of your 1st or 2nd dose. 

Please do not forget to take at least one of the documents mentioned above with you when you attend for your vaccination.  This is required in all cases. where you have pre-booked your appointment or attend a walk-in vaccination centre on the day without prior booking. 

Guidance regarding Covid-19 for patients with rheumatological conditions 

https://www.rheumatology.org.uk/practice-quality/covid-19-guidance 

https://www.versusarthritis.org/covid-19-updates/vaccines-for-covid-19-your-questions-answered/

 http://arma.uk.net/covid-19-coronavirus-info/ 

https://nras.org.uk/information-support/information/coronavirus-and-ra/ 

 

Versus Arthritis UK

Charity with information sheets on rheumatological conditions and their treatments

https://www.versusarthritis.org/ 

 

National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society. 

Links to NRAS Support groups

https://nras.org.uk/ 

https://nras.org.uk/information-support/connect-with-others/groups/

 

Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance

http://arma.uk.net/ 

 

British Society of Rheumatology National Early Arthritis Audit information for patients 

https://myarthritisaudit.org.uk/pagesMYPatientPortal/homemyPatientPortal 

  

Information about Osteoporosis and Bone Health

 
The Royal Osteoporosis society
https://theros.org.uk/ 
Online Calculator of dietary Calcium intake
https://www.cgem.ed.ac.uk/research/rheumatological/calcium-calculator/

 

Information about Vasculitis, Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant cell arteritis 

https://pmrgca.org.uk/ 

https://www.vasculitis.org.uk/ 

 

National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society website and back to action programme: 

https://nass.co.uk/ 

 

Patient Disease activity scores for Rheumatoid arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis

https://nass.co.uk/managing-my-as/exercise/back-to-action-exercise-programme/ 

 

DAS28 score for assessment of disease activity in Rheumatoid arthritis

https://nras.org.uk/resource/the-das28-score/ 

 

Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index 

https://basdai.com/ 

 

Raynaud's and Scleroderma Society UK website: 

https://www.sruk.co.uk/ 

 

UK Gout society 

http://www.ukgoutsociety.org/