In addition to general new and review clinics, the following specialised clinics are held:
- Paediatric Rheumatology these are held jointly with a Consultant Paediatrician
- Bone Health
Nurse led clinics
- Drug monitoring clinics (4 per week)
- Postal Monitoring (daily)
- Counselling Clinic (1 per week)
These services are provided by the Senior Nursing Staff of the Specialist Medicine Ward and by our rheumatology nurse specialist.
Drug monitoring clinics
All patients taking disease modifying therapies (DMARDs), such as methotrexate and leflunomide, need regular blood tests to keep them safe. These clinics are run by the Rheumatology Specialist Nurse. We appreciate that it can be difficult for patients to fit the necessary visits around their work and home life so we have been working hard to make the system as convenient as we can. It is however extremely important to attend regularly and unfortunately if someone is not having bloods checked then their drug treatment will be stopped.
Rheumatology monitoring clinic
Location: Reception B, Main Outpatient Department
Clinic times: Tuesday / Thursday / Friday mornings
Contact:
- Monitoring Appointments: 01709 820000 ext 6422, 6400 or 6421
Patients will be seen in this clinic on the first three occasions after starting a DMARD. After this they will be transferred to the postal monitoring clinic.
If, however patients attending the postal monitoring service are having problems, then they can contact us and arrange to be seen. At each attendance patients will have their blood count, kidney and liver function, and a marker of inflammation checked/assessed. Each patient will have the opportunity to discuss their medication with the clinic nurse, how they are responding to treatment, and any problem they may have concerning either their medication or disease activity.
All patients carry a record of their blood results, in either the NPSA methotrexate booklet, or The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust Monitoring Booklet. This allows patients and their GPs to see the blood test results.
Consultants and or Specialist Registrar are available at each clinic if advice is required regarding abnormal blood results, or if any patient attending reports any other problem.
With respect to sub-cutaneous methotrexate administration, wherever possible patients, or their family member / friend, are taught self-administration. If this is not possible then patients are able to attend the clinic on a weekly basis.
What to do if you are a patient attending this clinic?
- Go to the blood room (Phlebotomy) to have your blood taken at the time stated on your appointment card.
- Your monitoring book acts as the blood request form and will be taken from you by the phlebotomist.
- Go to the reception desk in area A of medical outpatients and check in.
- Go to area B in medical outpatients and let a nurse know that you have arrived.
- Sister Elsey, or one of her colleagues, will see you (this is done according to the order you are on the clinic list).
- Go back to A reception and make your next appointment before leaving.
- Your monitoring booklet will be posted back to you.
Postal Monitoring Clinics
The majority of patients will be transferred to this monitoring service by the 4th monitoring appointment. It is designed to offer much greater freedom for patients but still ensuring that they are safe.
Patients will be given an appointment for a postal monitoring clinic. These run from Monday to Friday, both morning and afternoon. To allow you to fit your appointment around your commitments, we are happy for you to come at any time (during normal working hours) during the week leading up to your original appointment. Please visit the medical records clerk on outpatient reception A to ask them to change your appointment if you need to. This allows the nurse to check that everyone who should have attended has done so. If not they will be contacted and sent a further appointment and reminder.
Contact:
- Monitoring Appointments: 01709 820000 ext 6422, 6400 or 6421
- Phlebotomy appointments: 01709 304235
What to do if you are a patient attending this clinic?
- On the week of your appointment please check in at reception A in medical outpatients and make your next appointment.
- If you have come before your original appointment please let the clerk know so that your appointment is changed on the computer.
- Go to the blood room (phlebotomy) and have your blood test.
- Leave your monitoring booklet at phlebotomy (this acts as the blood request form).
- If you attend before the reception desk in outpatients is open, please contact medical records that day so your attendance can be documented and a further appointment made.
- Your monitoring book will be posted back to you once checked by the nurse specialist.
Please note that any abnormal blood test results will be discussed with a consultant / specialist registrar, and any necessary action will be planned.
