The Team
At Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, people with Rheumatoid Arthritis and other similar conditions are seen in the Rheumatology Follow-up (RFU) Clinics which are run by Rheumatology Practitioners. The aim of the service is to provide support and care of the best standard for our patients.
Rheumatology Practitioners are specialist nurses and physiotherapists. They have been trained to a high level to look after everyaspect of your arthritis. Theywork closelywith the Consultant Rheumatologist, Dr Paul Thompson, and the other Rheumatology Physicians.
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Dr. Paul Thompson Dr. Thompson is the head of the Rheumatology department at Poole Hospital |
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Dr. Selwyn Richards
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Dr. Fouz Rahmeh
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Tricia Cornell |
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Anne Trehane |
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Sue Benjamin |
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Julia Taylor |
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Sarah Wright |
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Joy Christopher |
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Robert Field |
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Jane Haynes |
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Sarah Bradley |
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Sarah Wastell |
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Jacky Holland |
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Audrey Dixon |
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Sue Hack, Ruth Hunt |
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Gayle White |
If you feel that you have a problem with your joints you should first make an appointment to see your GP. Your GP may then decide to refer you to Dr Thompson for a specialist opinion, this will take place in the Rheumatology Department at Poole Hospital. You may be seen by a member of the Rheumatology team on this first appointment, this could be the specialist registrar, or the clinical assistants.
If your diagnosis is rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis or psoriatic arthritis, you will probably be referred to the Rheumatology Follow-up Service (RFU).
At the RFU clinics you will be seen by a rheumatology practitioner who will assess your arthritis and monitor your treatment. The rheumatology practitioners are able to discuss and advise on many aspects of your arthritis. These include how to deal with 'flares' of the disease, drugs, exercise, ways to protect your joints, family problems, financial worries, day to day activities, work problems and social services.
Rheumatology Practitioners order your blood tests, x-rays as well as refer you to physiotherapy, occupational therapy, appliances (footwear), podiatry (insoles) and social services. Patient education is provided on a one to one basis during the appointment with the Rheumatology Practitioner, we provide handouts on all the main drugs that are used and can also give information on other aspects of the disease.
Of course problems with arthritis do not always occur conveniently at the time of your appointment, therefore we run a telephone advice line. This is an answer phone that is on 24 hours a day. We try to answer the calls ourselves during office hours, however we do run busy clinics so if you leave a message we aim to get back to you within a short space of time - If you have problems with your arthritis or are worried about possible side effects of your treatment, you can contact us on the telephone advice line number below.
Rheumatology Telephone Advice Line number 01202 442849.