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Rheumatology

  • Service Contact: CH-TR.rheumatology@nhs.net
  • Address: Croydon University Hospital 530 London Road, Croydon, CR7 7YE
  • Reception phone number: 020 8401 3973

Early arthritis services

IMPORTANT COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: If you are on immunosuppressant medicines, it is very important that you check the latest guidance to know how to protect yourself from coronavirus (COVID-19). Patients recieving rheumatological treatment can click here  and use a risk calculator to understand how to protect yourself. In most cases, normal social distancing is all that is needed. However in some cases more complete self-isolation is vital, so please do use the calculator and ensure you follow the guidance to stay safe.

 

Rapid diagnosis and early treatment of inflammatory arthritis is known to increase likelihood of remission, reduce rates of joint damage and give a good quality of life.

Croydon Health Services has developed a dedicated early arthritis service to speed up assessment and treatment of these conditions.

Clinics

Consultant-led early arthritis clinics are available at Croydon University Hospital and Purley War Memorial Hospital.

A comprehensive ultrasound scan of the hands, wrists and feet is performed with the aim to speed up diagnosis of patients with symptoms of inflammatory arthritis and treat within six weeks of referral.

For patients presenting with more than two swollen joints and had their symptoms for less than a year, the service aims to review within three weeks of referral to catch arthritis early.

We diagnose and treat within six weeks of referral as per the National Quality Standards (NQS) set by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the British Society of Rheumatology.
 

How to refer

Criteria

Both required                                                                                           

1. Persistent joint inflammation

≥ 6 weeks and < 1 year in 2 or more joints                   

Tenderness over the joint line                                         

Joint swelling                                                                       

Painful limited RoM                                                            

 

2. Morning Stiffness ≥ 30 minutes                                                        

At least one required

  • MCP and / or MTP positive squeeze test                                        
  • Positive RhF (or Anti-CCP)                                                                                         
  • Raised inflammatory markers (ESR or CRP)

Refer via e-Referrals.

More information about e-Referrals is available here

Contact information

Rheumatology

Croydon University Hospital

530 London Road

Croydon

CR7 7YE

020 8401 3973 option 1 Rheumatology

Email: CH-TR.rheumatology@nhs.net

Bone Health Service

We provide an extensive bone health service at Croydon University Hospital and in various community sites, ranging from imaging to bone health assessments. 

Services

Rheumatology – Osteoporosis clinics at Purley Memorial Hospital and Croydon University Hospital. Assessment and specialist treatment of Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Disorders.

Fracture Liaison Service – Bone health and falls assessments in secondary prevention of patients who have had fragility fractures and seen in Trauma / fracture clinics in Orthopaedics.

Geriatrics – Our falls service provides assessment and treatment of patients with recurrent falls.

Orthogeriatrics – Bone health assessment of patients older than 60 years admitted with hip fractures. 

Orthopaedics – Surgical management of acute vertebral fractures with our Kyphoplasty service.

Radiology – Bone density scan service (DEXA scan) at Purley Memorial Hospital. DEXA scanning to ascertain patients’ bone density status. 

Dietetics – Review of diet regarding optimizing calcium and Vitamin D and assessment of patients with low BMI and coeliac disease (important risk factors for Osteoporosis). 

Physiotherapy – Focus on low impact exercises to improve bone density and muscle conditioning. 

 

Wards and clinics — where they are based

Croydon University Hospital

  • Fracture Liaison Nurse clinics
  • Orthopaedic Kyphoplasty service – orthopaedic OPD / Fracture Clinic and inpatient for Kyphoplasties
  • Orthogeriatrics inpatient reviews: base ward is Queens 3 with outlying patients on Queens 1 and 2
  • Physiotherapy

 

Purley War Memorial Hospital

  • Bone density scan service (DEXA scan)

 

Both

  • Rheumatology Osteoporosis clinics 
  • Falls service clinics 
  • Dietetics service

 

Other helpful information for patients

National Osteoporosis (NOS) website: www.nos.org.uk (for all leaflets on osteoporosis, associated problems, medications, exercise, lifestyle changes etc).

NOS helpline: 0845 450 0230. NOS general enquires: 0845 130 3076

Rheumatology Helpline number (regarding Osteoporosis clinic): 020 8401 3973    

Falls Service Helpline number: 020 8274 6258            

Physiotherapy number: 020 8274 6847

Dietetics number:   0208 401 3000 ext 4123/3096.  

 

Locations

Croydon University Hospital, 530 London Road, Croydon, CR7 7YE

Purley War Memorial Hospital, 856 Brighton Rd, Purley, CR8 2YL

Pathways

Aromatase Inhibitor OP pathways.pdf[pdf] 519KB

Croydon HS Post-Menapausal Osteoporosis Pathway.pdf[pdf] 409KB

Glucocorticoid induced Osteoporosis Pathway.pdf[pdf] 287KB

CHS Bisphosphonate drug holiday and treatment review pathway 2017.pdf[pdf] 399KB

CHS Osteoporosis Referral Pathway.pdf[pdf] 151KB

ASBMR bisphosphonate associated atypical femoral fracture management pathway.pdf[pdf] 289KB

Patient information

Versus Arthritis is an organisation providing support for people with arthritis in the UK. If you are under the care of our Rheumatologists and would like to find out more about your conditions, you can do so by visiting the links below: