New Helpline Numbers:
For Carolyn Goddard ( Rheumatology Nurse Specialist)
Tel: 01983 552022
For Caroline Sunderland (Osteoporosis Nurse Specialist)
Tel: 01983 552025
Coronavirus Guidance From BSR
The Islands Rheumatology Team are currently following the coronavirus guidance from the British Society for Rheumatology (BSR). Their guidelines are as follows:
Should patients cease their medication as a precaution?
Some rheumatology patients, particularly those on steroids and biologics, will be immunosuppressed and should therefore be considered 'high risk'. All patients should however continue to take their medication unless directed otherwise by their rheumatology team. If you are planning to start or switch to a new medication this may now need to be reviewed. Please remember patients on long term steroids should not stop these abruptly.
If you are showing any symptoms and you think you might have coronavirus or you've been in close contact with someone who has it:
Stay at home and avoid close contact with other people
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital
Dial the NHS 111 coronavirus service to find out what to do next
Should patients who become infected with the virus cease their medication?
If patients develop symptoms of any infection, immunosuppressive therapy should be paused for the duration of the infection and until they feel well, in consultation with their rheumatology team. Those patients on steroids should not stop these abruptly and advice should be sought from their treating team.
What precautions should patients be advised to take?
Everyone should be following the advised precautions as outlined by the NHS and government websites.
These are the current guidelines that our Islands Rheumatology Team are following and they have sent this advice to all of the Islands GP practices, but as we all know advice can change quite quickly regarding the virus. So we will endeavour to keep all advice as up to date as possible.
Our rheumatology team are currently working from the Diabetes Centre at St. Mary's as Laidlaw is being transformed into a ward in case more beds are needed to help with the Coronavirus outbreak. You can still contact the team via the usual helpline number: 01983 552218, but please be aware that during this time it may take them a bit longer to respond.
The team are also following guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on how to manage their clinics, communicating with patients, treatments and monitoring of patients during Covid-19 outbreak.
These guidelines can be found here: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng167
Anyone who has an appointment coming up will be contacted by the team first to explain how they will be conducting your consultation. I know they are trying to do them over the phone.
Carolyn is still doing her infusion clinic, but she has been moved around to different locations a couple of times already. Currently she is based in the Respiratory Gym at St. Mary's. If you have an infusion coming up then she will contact you beforehand to let you know where you will need to go. She is only doing one patient at a time due to self distancing, so she will tell you what time you need to attend.
Please only attend the Rheumatology Department if you have been told to.
For Carolyn Goddard ( Rheumatology Nurse Specialist)
Tel: 01983 552022
For Caroline Sunderland (Osteoporosis Nurse Specialist)
Tel: 01983 552025
Coronavirus Guidance From BSR
The Islands Rheumatology Team are currently following the coronavirus guidance from the British Society for Rheumatology (BSR). Their guidelines are as follows:
Should patients cease their medication as a precaution?
Some rheumatology patients, particularly those on steroids and biologics, will be immunosuppressed and should therefore be considered 'high risk'. All patients should however continue to take their medication unless directed otherwise by their rheumatology team. If you are planning to start or switch to a new medication this may now need to be reviewed. Please remember patients on long term steroids should not stop these abruptly.
If you are showing any symptoms and you think you might have coronavirus or you've been in close contact with someone who has it:
Stay at home and avoid close contact with other people
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital
Dial the NHS 111 coronavirus service to find out what to do next
Should patients who become infected with the virus cease their medication?
If patients develop symptoms of any infection, immunosuppressive therapy should be paused for the duration of the infection and until they feel well, in consultation with their rheumatology team. Those patients on steroids should not stop these abruptly and advice should be sought from their treating team.
What precautions should patients be advised to take?
Everyone should be following the advised precautions as outlined by the NHS and government websites.
These are the current guidelines that our Islands Rheumatology Team are following and they have sent this advice to all of the Islands GP practices, but as we all know advice can change quite quickly regarding the virus. So we will endeavour to keep all advice as up to date as possible.
Our rheumatology team are currently working from the Diabetes Centre at St. Mary's as Laidlaw is being transformed into a ward in case more beds are needed to help with the Coronavirus outbreak. You can still contact the team via the usual helpline number: 01983 552218, but please be aware that during this time it may take them a bit longer to respond.
The team are also following guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on how to manage their clinics, communicating with patients, treatments and monitoring of patients during Covid-19 outbreak.
These guidelines can be found here: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng167
Anyone who has an appointment coming up will be contacted by the team first to explain how they will be conducting your consultation. I know they are trying to do them over the phone.
Carolyn is still doing her infusion clinic, but she has been moved around to different locations a couple of times already. Currently she is based in the Respiratory Gym at St. Mary's. If you have an infusion coming up then she will contact you beforehand to let you know where you will need to go. She is only doing one patient at a time due to self distancing, so she will tell you what time you need to attend.
Please only attend the Rheumatology Department if you have been told to.
PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE PAYMENT
From the 8th April 2013 a new benefit called Personal Independence Payment (PIP) was introduced. This is to replace Disability Living Allowance for disabled people aged 16yrs to 64yrs.
WHAT IS PIP?
PIP is designed to help disabled people to live more independently and support those with the greatest need. It is to help people meet the extra costs that come from having a long-term health condition or disability i.e ill health or disability that is expected to last 12 months or longer.
PIP will be made up of 2 components:
1st - Daily Living Component
2nd - Mobility Component
Each component will have two rates - Standard and Enhanced.
ASSESSMENT
PIP is awarded based on the effect a long-term health condition or disability has on a persons daily life. To help gain a clear understanding of this claimants are asked to complete a form describing how their condition or disability affects them. Supporting evidence and details of anyone that might be able to advise on their situation can also be included. Most people are asked to attend a face-to-face consultation with a health professional as part of their claim.
Atos IT Services UK Ltd is carrying out the face-to-face consultations in Scotland, North East and North West England and Southern England.
All of this information is then used to decide if PIP can be awarded. If successful then the claimants award is reviewed over time to make sure it is still correct and continues to meet their needs.
EXISTING DISABILITY LIVING ALLOWANCE CLAIMANTS
If you report a change in your health condition or disability, or you are reaching the end of an existing Disability Living Allowance award and you have not received a Disability Living Allowance renewal letter then you will be asked to make a claim for PIP.
People with a lifetime or indefinite disability living allowance award have begun to be invited to claim PIP. You do not need to do anything now until the DWP write to you inviting you to claim PIP. When you receive this letter do not ignore it because if you don't respond to it then your disability living allowance will stop.
For further information check out the Department for Work and Pensions Website: www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/disability/personal-independence-payment/
NEW JIA WEBSITE
The National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society has launched a new website for children and families that are affected by Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. It provides information on the condition, how it is managed and living with it. Click on the link to check it out www.jia.org.uk
MEDICATION AND DRIVING
In March 2015 new laws on driving whilst taking medication came into practice. It is now illegal in England and Wales to dive with legal drugs in your body if they impair your driving. If you are taking any of the following medication;
- Clonazepam
- Diazepam
- Flunitrazepam
- Lorazepam
- Methadone
- Morphine or Opiate and Opiod-based drugs, e.g. Codeine, Tramadol or Fentanyl
- Oxazepam
- Temazepam
then you should speak to your doctor about driving if you feel that the medication is impairing your ability to drive. (Always read the advice leaflet with your medication before you drive as this will provide information on what symptoms to look out for).
You should be able to drive after taking these drugs if you have been prescribed them by a healthcare professional and you are taking them as directed and they aren't causing you to be unfit to drive. The goverments department of transport suggest that you carry proof of your prescribed medication with you in the car, for example a repeat prescription, in case you are ever stopped.
In March 2015 new laws on driving whilst taking medication came into practice. It is now illegal in England and Wales to dive with legal drugs in your body if they impair your driving. If you are taking any of the following medication;
- Clonazepam
- Diazepam
- Flunitrazepam
- Lorazepam
- Methadone
- Morphine or Opiate and Opiod-based drugs, e.g. Codeine, Tramadol or Fentanyl
- Oxazepam
- Temazepam
then you should speak to your doctor about driving if you feel that the medication is impairing your ability to drive. (Always read the advice leaflet with your medication before you drive as this will provide information on what symptoms to look out for).
You should be able to drive after taking these drugs if you have been prescribed them by a healthcare professional and you are taking them as directed and they aren't causing you to be unfit to drive. The goverments department of transport suggest that you carry proof of your prescribed medication with you in the car, for example a repeat prescription, in case you are ever stopped.
