Our services

Rheumatology

The Rheumatology team offers a Trust wide service allowing patients local access to care. Outpatient clinics are held at:

Macclesfield District General Hospital
Congleton War Memorial Hospital (CWMH)
Handforth Health Centre (HHC)
Knutsford District Community Hospital (KDCH)
Waters Green Med Centre (WGMC)

Our services

Rheumatology is a multidisciplinary service and in addition to the consultant rheumatologist led clinics patients may be referred to other members of the team including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, rheumatology specialist nurse, specialist registrar. As necessary we also make referrals to the PCT based podiatry service.

We provide a diagnostic and treatment service for the management of all rheumatic conditions. Professor Symmons, in conjunction with the Department of Paediatrics, offers a paediatric rheumatology service. This service is also supplemented by visits from Dr Bailden, Consultant Paediatric Rheumatologist. (All paediatric rheumatology referrals should be directed to Professor Symmons and marked ‘Paediatric rheumatology referral’).

We have general rheumatology consultant led clinics at Macclesfield District General Hospital and in the community locations – KDCH, HHC, CWMH. Our occupational therapists also offer services at these locations. Our specialist rheumatology physiotherapist liaises with designated physiotherapists at the locations.

The arthritis review clinic was developed soon after the inception of the service. It is a 'one stop MOT' clinic held in WGMC in which patients with stable Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) are seen annually by their consultant rheumatologist, in conjunction with the rheumatology occupational therapists and physiotherapist. Objective measures of outcome are made and management plans formulated. This management approach has been endorsed as good practice by NICE.

Patients with newly diagnosed inflammatory arthritis are referred to appropriate members of the multidisciplinary team and in particular are given disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug education by Mrs Meecham, Specialist Rheumatology Nurse.

Adult patients requiring elective inpatient therapy are admitted to rheumatology beds at Stepping Hill Hospital. This unit services the needs of rheumatology patients from South Manchester, Stockport and East Cheshire, and has hydrotherapy facilities. Routine consultant ward rounds (MDGH and at SHH) take place each Wednesday afternoon. Patients requiring acute inpatient care (for vasculitis) are admitted to Macclesfield District General Hospital and cared for in conjunction with our consultant colleagues in general medicine.

Our occupational therapists run an educational programme for patients with inflammatory arthritis (and involve their partners) and offer a relaxation therapy service (referrals from within the multidisciplinary team). Our physiotherapists have number of innovative programmes including a ‘Core stability programme’ which is of particular benefit to those with fibromyalgia and some forms of hypermobility syndrome – patients completing the programme are offered the opportunity to consolidate their gains through links with the facilities at the Macclesfield leisure centre.

Patients with ankylosing spondylitis are followed up 6-12 monthly by our physiotherapists – measures of disease activity and suppleness are incorporated into these assessments.

As a department we participate in portfolio research – our ability to do so is enhanced by the role of our CLRN funded Research Nurse, Beverley Jones.

Facilities and specialist services offered

Paediatric rheumatology clinic
Specialist nurse led clinics (DMARD review and education, assessment of patients on anti TNF therapy).
Arthritis review clinic
Joint injections - Monday mornings (weeks 1,3,4) and every 3rd Wednesday at Waters Green Medical Centre.
Endoscopy and Treatment Unit (consultant and rheumatology specialist nurse and SpR referral only).
SPIRE education programme - an education programme for patients with RA run by the rheumatology occupational therapists with input from pharmacist, specialist nurse and a physiotherapist.

Our team

Name	Title	Number
Dr Susan Knight	Consultant	01625 661586
Dr Maryam Samavi	Consultant	01625 661586
Deborah Symmons	Professor	01625 661586
Jo Shelmerdine	Specialist Rheumatology Nurse	01625 661978
Sandra Hardgreaves	Senior Rheumatology Occupational Therapist	01625 661484
Karen Brackley	Senior Rheumatology Occupational Therapist	01625 661484
Elizabeth Meecham	Specialist Nurse	01625 661978
Jenny Ratcliffe	Rheumatology Physiotherapy Specialist	01625 661486
Caroline Gandhi	Senior Physiotherapist	01625 661486
Gill Green	Occupational Therapy Assistant	01625 661486
Linda Machin	Rheumatology Secretary	01625 661586
Mrs Ann Platt	Secretary	01625 661586
Beverley Jones	Research Nurse	01625 661586