Rheumatology
Referrals
Making a referral
We accept referrals from GPs and other hospitals (tertiary referrals).
How to submit a referral
e-RS referrals
All NHS GP referrals must be submitted using the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS). Referrals sent by email or post from NHS GPs will not be processed.
If you need advice, please use the advice and guidance channels, including e-RS advice and guidance.
We strongly encourage GPs to use the Consultant Connect service. This allows you to speak by telephone with senior doctors to discuss cases. Please use this before making a referral as our capacity to see new patients is limited.
Non-e-RS referrals
In line with NHS England's Digital First approach, we encourage all external non-e-RS referrals to be submitted digitally.
Digital referrals help reduce delays, improve traceability, minimise the risk of lost or incomplete information, and support safer patient care.
Please submit referrals by email to [email protected].
We will continue to accept paper referrals where necessary. However, referrers will be advised to use digital referral methods in future.
We accept referrals for:
- inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis
- axial spondyloarthritis
- polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis
- gout
- vasculitis
- sarcoidosis
- sjogren's syndrome
- connective tissue diseases such as lupus and dermatomyositis
We do not accept referrals for:
- fibromyalgia
- Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS)
- hypermobility syndrome
- mechanical back pain
Bone clinic referrals
The bone clinic accepts both GP and tertiary referrals.
Please note that if a referral is mainly a request to access Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scanning to assess bone mineral density, this can be done directly by referring to our nuclear medicine department.
Contact us
Email: [email protected]
Last updated: July 2026