Rheumatology
We provide specialist and general rheumatology services for conditions including:
- Inflammatory arthritis (this includes conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis)
- Axial Spondylarthritis (this includes ankylosing spondylitis)
- Giant cell arteritis (also known as GCA or temporal arteritis)
- Connective tissue diseases (including systemic lupus erythematosus)
We also provide a service for diagnosis and management of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (by a visiting Paediatric Rheumatologist from The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital).
Our expert team of clinicians use their well-established expertise to provide specialist services on an inpatient, day-case, outpatient and outreach basis.
We offer high quality multidisciplinary care supported by consultants, speciality doctors, clinical nurse specialists and nurses. Our team also includes specialist input from therapies and pharmacy. Our clinicians are supported by an experienced team of secretaries and booking coordinators.
In keeping with best quality clinical care, we are actively involved in clinical trials and research to ensure our patients have access to the most up to date treatments.
We are taking part in the British Society for Rheumatology National Early Inflammatory Arthritis (NEIA) Audit, you can find more information on their website at: NEIA Audit | British Society for Rheumatology.
Services
The Rheumatology service at RJAH is the lead provider for rheumatological conditions across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin (STW). The service also provides outpatient clinics for some locations outside of STW.
Clinic locations include:
- The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH), Oswestry
- Royal Shrewsbury Hospital
- Euston House, Telford
- Ludlow Community Hospital
- Whitchurch Community Hospital
- Newtown, Powys
We also provide:
- Day case admissions for drug infusions and joint injections.
- Inpatient beds on Sheldon Ward for medical management and intensive rehabilitation.
- A Rheumatology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Advice Line is available to support patients once they have been confirmed with a rheumatological condition.
- In-reach support and advice for clinical teams looking after inpatients at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Princess Royal Hospital, Telford.
Consultants
You can view each consultant profile by clicking on the name below:
- Dr Roshan Amarasena
- Dr Rameez Arif
- Dr Ayman Askari
- Dr Roger Bucknall
- Dr Omar El-Gaby
- Dr Sunhoury Elsideeg
- Dr Amol Sagdeo
Specialist Rheumatology Nurses
- Gemma Cartwright
- Kate Davies-Williams
- Emma Devitt
- Nicola Drury
- Sandra Hooper
- Julie Huxley
- Lucy Richmond
- Lorraine Ridge
Middle grade and Specialty Doctors in Rheumatology
- Dr Julia Flint, Specialty Doctor (also on GMC Specialist register for Rheumatology)
- Dr Raghvendraprasad Patil, Specialty Doctor
- Dr Zaw Ya, Specialty Doctor
- Dr Hirushi Jayasekera, Specialist registrar in Rheumatology (on annual rotation from West Midlands training programme)
Specialist Therapies Team
- Mike Delahay - Advanced Physiotherapist Practitioner – Rheumatology
Mike is supported by Physiotherapist Specialist, Imogen Clowes, and Occupational Therapist, Lisa Gordon.
Referral Information
GPs can receive prompt advice and guidance for any rheumatology query from a rheumatology consultant, from Monday to Friday, via the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS) – please include any relevant documents, such as letters or photographs, in messages.
Referrals can be made for a range of conditions, including:
- Inflammatory arthritis (including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis)
- Systemic vasculitis
- Suspected autoimmune Connective Tissue Disease (CTD) e.g. SLE, myositis, scleroderma
- Gout and other crystal deposition diseases (consider Advice & Guidance for gout related queries).
- Polymyalgia rheumatica (consider Advice & Guidance for Polymyalgia rheumatica related queries).
- To exclude an underlying rheumatic disease in cases of possible fibromyalgia. Please note that once confirmed patients will be referred to appropriate treatment service.
Referrals can be made via:
- NHS referral via your GP or another consultant. (In Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (STW) all referrals should be made via your GP unless there is an urgent clinical need).
- For rheumatology patients who live in Powys, referrals should be made via your GP.
- For rheumatology patients who live in North Wales, the Local Health Board has requested that all new referrals should be directed to the rheumatology service at Wrexham Maelor hospital.
- Private consultation via individual’s consultant.
Useful resources
Related Links