Until you have been on a stable dose for 3 months, your rheumatology medication needs to be collected from Chapel Allerton Hospital Pharmacy. If this is not convenient, we can arrange for it to be collected from St James’ Hospital or the Leeds General Infirmary. We are no longer able to arrange home deliveries.
Once we know that your body is responding well to the treatment and that your blood test results are stable, we will ask your GP to take over the prescription of your medication.
If you haven’t had your blood tested for a while, we will be unable to issue a repeat prescription for your usual medication. This is because it is unsafe to do so.
You can request a blood form by contacting the Prescription Management Team on 0113 3924948 or by you can request a blood form by filling out our Rheumatology Blood Form.
Injections and replacement sharps bins are delivered to your door by a homecare delivery company – please download our Homecare Delivery Companies contact information document.
This is usually an automatic process. The most common causes of a delayed delivery include:
- Prescription issues
- Logistical issues (i.e. nobody is home to receive the delivery; lack of delivery drivers)
- Supply issues (i.e. there is a manufacturing problem and the drug is not available)
If there is an issue with your prescription you should contact the Prescription Management Team on 0113 3924948.
Please be aware that prescriptions for biologic drugs can take up to 4 weeks to process and we cannot provide a supply from the hospital pharmacy as they are non-stock items. Your GP will also be unable to resupply them.
It is normal to experience flares in your condition. This is because your immune system is constantly changing and adapting to its environment to help keep you healthy. Depending on your condition, the symptoms of a flare can include:
- Worsening pain
- Worsening stiffness
- Swelling in your joints
- Worsening fatigue
- Worsening rash
As flares can vary in duration, intensity and frequency there are lots of
In the early stages of certain treatments (e.g. Methotrexate, Sulfasalazine, Azathioprine) you will need frequent blood tests to make sure that your liver and kidneys are working properly and that you have the correct levels of red and white blood cells in your body. The blood tests you require are:
- Liver Function Tests (LFTs)
- Urea & Electrolytes (U&Es)
- Full Blood Count (FBC)
You will need blood tests:
- Every 2 weeks for 6 weeks, then
- Every month for 3 months
Once you have been on a stable dose for >3 months, you will need blood tests every 3 months (i.e. 4 times per year).
If you haven’t had your blood tested for a while, we will be unable to issue a repeat prescription for your usual medication. This is because it is unsafe to do so.
Blood tests can be done at any of our LTHT Hospitals (Monday- Friday, no appointment necessary) or at your GP surgery (appointment required).
You can request a blood form by filling out our Rheumatology Blood Form or by contacting the Prescription Management Team on 0113 3924948.
Please note that as part of LTHT’s commitment to reducing our carbon footprint, we are now requesting bloods electronically using the ICE system. This means that you will no longer receive a paper form in the post. We will continue to post out paper forms to people who do not live in the Leeds area or whose GP does not use the ICE system.
The person requesting the test is the person responsible for providing the result. If there is nothing to worry about and no further investigations are needed, we will often discuss test results with you at your next clinic appointment.
If you need reassurance or to talk to a healthcare professional about your test results and any ongoing symptoms, you can contact the Rheumatology Advice Line on 0113 3924444.
If you require a copy of your test results for your personal records or because you do not live in the Leeds area, please contact one of the rheumatology medical secretaries via the LTHT switchboard (AVA) on 0113 2433144. This is an automated service and you will need to state the name of your consultant. Alternatively, you can ask to be put through to the operator.
Please note – medical secretaries may sometimes need to contact a healthcare professional before providing your results. This is because they contain sensitive information.
Many test results are also available on the NHS app.
Each year there are XXX unattended rheumatology appointments. This equates to £XX of wastage. To help us operate a more efficient service and reduce the wastage of expensive treatments (e.g. intravenous medication), it is important that you tell us if you cannot attend your appointment. This can be done in several ways:
To cancel or reschedule a clinic appointment:
- Contact the Referral & Booking Service on 0113 5181823
- Appointments can also be managed using the Patient Hub Website
To cancel or reschedule an intravenous infusion:
- Contact Ward C5 (Day Case Unit) on 0113 3924205
If you do not receive an alternative appointment within 4 weeks of cancellation, please contact our Rheumatology Administrators on 0113 3924789.
Further information will be made available shortly.
Many biologic rheumatology medications (injections or infusions) need to be paused if you need surgery or invasive dentistry (e.g. an extraction, an implant, root canal treatment). This is because you are more at risk of an infection when you have an open wound and your body is busy repairing itself.
Very often, your surgeon will contact the Rheumatology team for advice so that we can plan the best way forward. You will not usually need to stop your other rheumatology medication (e.g. Methotrexate, Sulfasalazine, Hydroxychloroquine).
Most injectable rheumatology medications need to be kept in a cool bag with an ice pack when travelling. If your journey involves air travel, the medication must be kept in your hand luggage. This is because it is too cold in the hold of an aeroplane and your medication may freeze.
You can obtain a travel letter for border control by contacting the rheumatology medical secretaries via the LTHT switchboard (AVA) on 0113 2433144. This is an automated service and you will need to state the name of your consultant. Alternatively, you can ask to be put through to the operator.
If you are taking medication for your rheumatology condition, we would like to help plan your pregnancy. This is because some of the medications we use can be harmful to the unborn child. To discuss treatment options that ensure the wellbeing of you and your baby, you can talk to any of our team during your appointment. We also offer a combined Rheumatology/ Obstetric service, (run by a small team of consultants and clinical nurse specialists) for more complex cases.
Many of the treatments we prescribe to help control your rheumatology condition work by lowering your immune system. In order to reduce the risk of serious infection, we recommend that you stay up to date with the following vaccines:
- Influenza
- COVID
- Pneumonia
Many people are also eligible for the Shingles (Shingrix) vaccine.
If you need vaccines to travel abroad, please contact the Rheumatology Advice Line on 0113 3924444. Live vaccines are not permitted and careful planning is needed when taking certain rheumatology medication (i.e. Rituximab).
Your NHS number is a 10-digit number that can be found on:
- The NHS app Homepage (in blue text, under your name)
- An LTHT clinic letter (in bold text, next to your name and DOB)
By giving us this number, you are helping us to correctly identify you and address your query more efficiently.