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.

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.

Home delivery of medications: potential scam alert

We have been alerted to a scam which involves those getting medications delivered to their home.

Patients have reported receiving calls or texts requesting bank details to pay for their deliveries. Please do not give out any bank details, this service and your medication is provided for free. If you do receive a call or text requesting bank details, please alert your home care provider so they can investigate.

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).

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
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.

Resources for rheumatology patients and pregnancy

Below is a list of resources with information about fertility, pregnancy and medications for Rheumatology patients.

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

Useful resources

Advice line

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

York: 01904 721854
Scarborough: 01723 385058

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.

Patients Know Best (PKB)

Register with the Rheumatology PKB site to access a Flare Care Plan, to monitor your symptoms and receive guidance on managing your condition with a wealth of information available at any time.