Rheumatology

The Rheumatology team provide a comprehensive range of general and specialist rheumatology clinical services to the population of York and North Yorkshire for patients with arthritis and other musculoskeletal health problems. This involves inpatient hospital care at York or Scarborough hospitals and outpatient clinics at York, Scarborough, Bridlington, Malton and Selby hospitals.

Our team is made up of staff from different specialist backgrounds who work together to deliver the best possible care for patients.

Rheumatology Covid-19 response

Where possible we will aim to carry out telephone or video consultations instead of face-to-face consultations. New patients or urgent patients may be seen face-to-face. Please follow the guidance on your appointment letter.

Please click on the links below for new advice during this time:

We see patients with varying musculoskeletal problems, primarily managing patients with inflammatory arthritis. Initially a member of the team will discuss your symptoms with you, determine how they affect your day to day activities and examine your joints.

Briefly these conditions include:

Rheumatoid Arthritis
Psoriatic Arthritis
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Connective Tissue Diseases such as lupus
Osteoporosis
Vasculitis

We also have musculoskeletal ultrasound assessment for diagnosing early inflammatory arthritis.

Our clinics

We hold regular clinics including joint injection clinics and intra-muscular steroid injection clinics at our outpatient departments in York, Scarborough, Bridlington, Malton and Selby hospitals.

Contact us

Our team contacted via switchboard for any specific queries not directly relating to outpatient appointments (which should be raised via the main hospital appointments office).

York Hospital, Wigginton Road, York, YO31 8HE
Telephone: (01904) 631313

Scarborough Hospital, Woodlands Drive, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO12 6QL
Telephone: (01723) 368111

Bridlington Hospital, Bessingby Road, Bridlington, East Yorkshire, YO16 4QP
Telephone: (01262) 606666

Malton Hospital, Middlecave Road, Malton, YO17 7NG
Telephone: (01653) 693041

Selby Hospital, Doncaster Road, Selby, North Yorkshire, YO8 9BX
Telephone: (01904) 724300

Support and advice about your condition or treatment

If you need support and advice about your condition and treatment including medication queries, contact the rheumatology advice line:

York: 01904 721854, between 9:00am – 1:00pm or email rheumemailadvice@york.nhs.uk.

Scarborough: 01723 385058

Please leave a message with your name, date of birth, telephone number and NHS number and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Please note the rheumatology advice service is not an emergency service.

If you require urgent medical advice you should consider contacting your GP surgery or NHS 111, and in life threatening circumstances please call 999.

If your medication is prescribed by your GP please speak to them in the first instance with any enquires relating to prescriptions and blood monitoring.

When to use the rheumatology advice service:

If you have a ‘flare’ of your arthritis that has not improved using self-help measures.
If you are experiencing side-effects to your medication and it is prescribed by the rheumatology team.
If you are going to run out of your rheumatology medication before your next rheumatology appointment and it is prescribed by the rheumatology team.
If you are going to run out of your rheumatology medication and your Homecare Company have advised a further prescription is required from the rheumatology team.

If your query is relating to an appointment booking please contact Outpatient Contact Centre: 01904 726400

How does the advice service work?

By email
Please provide the following information:

Your full name and hospital number and/or date of birth
The reason for your email
The rheumatology team will read your email and aim to respond within seven days. Please check to make sure the reply email does not go to your junk or spam email box.

By telephone

York advice line - as a pilot scheme this line is being answered between the hours of 9:00am – 1:00pm, Monday – Friday (excluding bank holidays). We will ask for:

Your full name and hospital number or date of birth
Your contact telephone number
The reason for your call

Scarborough advice line: 01723 385058, please leave a message with your name, date of birth, telephone number and NHS number and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

GP Surgeries
For illnesses that are not life threatening you should first contact your GP surgery. Outside of normal surgery hours you will be directed to an out-of-hours service. During out-of-hours periods you can also call NHS 111.

NHS 111
If it is not an immediate emergency call NHS 111. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can provide medical advice and also advise you on the best local services to offer the care you need, simply call 111. You should contact NHS 111 when your GP surgery is closed and you’re not sure what service you need.

Pharmacies
Pharmacists can also provide advice and over the counter medicines for a whole range of problems. To find a pharmacy near you visit www.nhs.uk.

Patient information leaflets

Information leaflets on specific conditions, treatment and management are available to order or download at: https://www.versusarthritis.org/order-our-information