Rheumatology

Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rheumatology Department has significantly reduced the number to face-to-face consultations whilst we help cover the medical wards.

We are however still available for advice and are running regular emergency clinics for those patients who need to be seen.

Our advice line is still open and the Rheumatology specialist nurses are contacting patients by telephone where needed.

Patients are advised to call the Rheumatology Advice Line on 01793 604323 and leave a brief message - calls will usually be returned within one working day.

The DAWN prescribing and monitoring service is working normally - please phone 01793 604204.

GPs are advised to phone the GWH switchboard (01793 604020) and ask to be put through to the rheumatologists, either via the secretaries or via the Rheumatology DECT phone.

Internal referrals can be made via the Rheumatology DECT phone, by email or by contacting the consultants direct via switchboard.

There is useful and regularly updated information online.

Advice for patients

Please see:

NRAS (National Rheumatoid Arthritis Socieity) website: Coronavirus: What we know so far (www.nras.org.uk/news/coronavirus-what-we-know-so-far)
Versus Arthritis website: COVID-19 updates (www.versusarthritis.org/covid-19-updates/)

Advice for health professionals

For advice on shielding for rheumatology patients, including a risk stratification guide, please see:

BSR (British Society for Rheumatology) website: Action needed: coronavirus and identifying patients for shielding (www.rheumatology.org.uk/news-policy/details/action-needed-coronavirus-identifying-high-risk-patients)

For further comprehensive advice on COVID-19 in relation to rheumatology, please see:

BSR (British Society for Rheumatology) website: COVID-19: guidance for rheumatologists (www.rheumatology.org.uk/news-policy/details/covid19-coronavirus-update-members)

Rheumatology 03 Rheumatology is a field of medicine which specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting joints, muscles and bones.

Many of these conditions are caused by imbalance of the immune system, and can also affect the skin and other internal organs.

About us

Our team includes:

Consultants
Training grade doctors (specialist registrars)
Specialist nurses
Physiotherapists
Administrative staff

Where to find us

We are based on the third floor of the Great Western Hospital, Osprey Unit.

We also run clinics at:

Cirencester Hospital
Savernake Hospital
Fairford Hospital

What rheumatologists treat

There are over 100 rheumatic diseases.

For more information on some of the most commonly treated, please follow the links below:

Gout (www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Gout/Pages/Introduction.aspx)
National Osteoporosis Society (www.nos.org.uk/ )
Osteoarthritis (www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteoarthritis/pages/introduction.aspx )
Pagets Disease (bone) (www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/conditions/pagets.aspx )
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Polymyalgia-rheumatica/Pages/Introduction.aspx )
Polymyositis and dermatomyositis (www.arthritisresearchuk.org/shop/products/publications/patient-information/conditions/polymyositis-and-dermatomyositis.aspx)
Psoriatic Arthritis (www.nhs.uk/conditions/psoriatic-arthritis/Pages/Introduction.aspx )
Reactive Arthritis (www.nhs.uk/conditions/Reactive-arthritis/Pages/Introduction.aspx )
Rheumatoid Arthritis (www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis.aspx )
Scleroderma (www.nhs.uk/conditions/scleroderma/Pages/Introduction.aspx )
Septic Arthritis (www.nhs.uk/conditions/septic-arthritis/pages/introduction.aspx )
Sjögren's Syndrome (www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/conditions/sjogrens-syndrome.aspx )
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/conditions/lupus.aspx )
Tendonitis (www.nhs.uk/conditions/Tendonitis/Pages/Introduction.aspx )
Vasculitis (www.nhs.uk/conditions/vasculitis/pages/introduction.aspx)

Useful terms explained

Please see our Dictionary of Rheumatological Terms for help with commonly used terms.

Children and teenagers

Please see the Oxford Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology Centre (OxPARC) website (www.noc.nhs.uk/oxparc).

How you can help yourself

There is a lot you can do to make living with a rheumatological condition more manageable.

Many aspects of your lifestyle influence your disease and making small changes can often decrease pain, stiffness and other difficulties associated with your condition.

This means that a large part of your treatment is within your control.

You have the power to substantially improve your quality of life.

Further information

Please have a look at our tips on Diet and Exercise and Sex, Sleep and Fatigue for more information.

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