This page is intended for use by clinicians at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham as a guideline for referring patients to Rheumatology.
How to refer
If a patient needs further support from Rheumatology, please refer via the following methods:
Rheumatology emergency
If you feel that the patient has a rheumatological emergency:
- Contact the rheumatology SpR on call via switchboard between:
- Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:00
- Saturday to Sunday, 09:00-12:00
- Outside of the above hours, refer to the on call medical registrar
- Make a PICS referral to Rheumatology who will review the referral in normal working hours
Monday to Sunday (all hours)
- Refer all patients via PICS (Requests > Rheumatology referral QEHB)
- Contact Rheumatology on call via Switchboard to discuss the referral between the following times:
- Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:00
- Saturday to Sunday, 09:00-12:00
- Outside of the above hours, the referral will be triaged by the Rheumatology team and the patient will be contacted appropriately as an outpatient
- Do not bring the patient back to MSDEC for an inpatient Rheumatology review
- Inform the patient to email Rheumatology if they have not heard from them within seven days
- Ensure the contact details are correct (address and telephone number) and include a telephone number in the referral
What is required for a referral?
If you suspect giant cell arteritis (GCA), please ensure:
- Bloods (FBC, U+Es, CRP and ESR) are completed
- Calculate and document the Southend GCA Probability Score
- Imaging – there is no need to routinely book a US scan or temporal biopsies, the Rheumatology team will arrange these
- If you feel the patient can be discharged, please prescribe 40mg Prednisolone OD with PPI cover for 14 days if suspecting GCA
Last reviewed: 04 October 2024
