Rheumatology is a branch of medicine that deals with the investigation, diagnosis and management of people living with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, that primarily affect the joints, muscles and bones.
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Services we provide
Our rheumatology team cares for people with joint, muscle and bone problems. These include:
- inflammatory arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
- connective tissue diseases, like lupus (SLE)
- conditions that affect blood vessels, like giant cell arteritis
- bone conditions, like osteoporosis
- soft tissue problems, like tennis elbow
- other conditions such as gout, carpal tunnel syndrome, polymyalgia rheumatica, and some types of back pain.
One of our top priorities is helping people who may be developing inflammatory arthritis. Finding and treating this early can make a big difference. It helps reduce long-term pain, disability and time off work.
We run a weekly Early Arthritis Clinic at West Suffolk Hospital. We aim to see people with suspected inflammatory arthritis within three weeks.
Contact the rheumatology team
Rheumatology nurses and patient advice line: 01284 713707
Messages should be left on the answer phone and one of our staff will respond either the same day or the next working day.
Dr Shweta Bhagat, lead consultant 01284 712977
Dr Vivek Rajagopal, consultant 01284 713785
Dr Catherine Bevington, consultant 01284 713484
Dr Katerina Achilleos, consultant 01284 713484
Dr Rita Abdulkader, consultant 01284 713440
Specialist registrar – rotating post through East of England Deanery
Ruth Slack, specialist nurse
Jackie Hughes, specialist nurse
Nicola Wood, specialist nurse
Bridget Stevenson, specialist nurse
Where to find us
Our rheumatology clinics run every weekday at West Suffolk Hospital, in the main outpatients department. We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.
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We also hold clinics in the community at:
- Newmarket Community Hospital
- Thetford Healthy Living Centre
- Sudbury Health Centre
- Haverhill Health Centre
- Stowhealth Surgery in Stowmarket
- Botesdale Health Centre