Rheumatology is devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic diseases, dealing with clinical problems involving joints, soft tissues and allied conditions of connective tissues.
The Rheumatology Department at City hospital is internationally recognised for its expertise in a range of rheumatic conditions, including lupus, vasculitis and early arthritis. We are a tertiary referral centre, which means we take referrals from other hospitals.
In 2005 the lupus clinic became a Lupus UK Centre of Excellence, the first one in the UK, and the department’s enthusiastic multidisciplinary team provides the highest standard of care with a friendly, patient-centred approach.
Our rheumatology service is an “exemplar” for the development of innovative practice and is used as a model for the development of services in other specialities for the “2010 Project”, involving the smooth transfer of patient care from a hospital to community setting where possible.
We work closely with other specialist areas, including pain management, orthopaedics and renal medicine and patients have access excellent therapy services, such as podiatry and physiotherapy. We also have in house Specialist Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Service and Nail Fold Capillaroscopy.
Our research is conducted with the Academic Unit of Rheumatology at the University of Birmingham, focusing on early inflammatory arthritis, lupus and vasculitis. Members of our team have won awards, including the prestigious REME (Rewarding Excellence in Medical Education) Award.
The clinic held at Sutton Medical is held on a Wednesday morning and is xonsultant led by Dr Situnayke and supported by a Nurse Led clinic run by Sue Butler.