The Rheumatology Department is a multi-disciplinary team of doctors, specialist nurses, physiotherapists, radiographers, occupational therapists and administrative staff.
To ensure consistency in treatment across the region and to enable patients to receive specialist care as near to home as possible, the rheumatology teams at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton and Yeovil Hospital have a close working relationship. We also regularly liaise with GPs to ensure a single-team approach for our patients.
Patients can be referred by their GP teams for diagnosis, treatment and, when appropriate, long-term management of patients with a range of musculoskeletal disorders including inflammatory arthritis, soft tissue rheumatism, osteoarthritis, connective tissue diseases and osteoporosis.
Clinics run in Yeovil, Taunton and at a number of our community hospitals depending on the condition. Please always check your appointment letter for the location of your appointment.
Musgrove Park Hospital
The Rheumatology department is based on the first floor of the Duchess building, opposite AFU.
More general information on managing flares relating to inflammatory joint disease
The advice line is not an emergency line.
Advice Line: 01823 342176/01823 343097 (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9am to 11am), please leave a message including contact details.
You should only call the Advice Line if:
- You have a ‘flare-up’ of your condition that has not improved using self-help measures for at least a week
- You are experiencing side-effects which you feel may be caused by the medication prescribed for your arthritis
- You have concerns relating to your condition or treatment which cannot wait until your next rheumatology appointment
- Your doctor or nurse specifically asked you report progress
- If you have a homecare drug delivery query, please contact the delivery company e.g. Sciensus or Healthnet in the first instance.
If you need urgent advice, or advice not related to your rheumatology condition, you should contact your GP, call 111 or attend your nearest Emergency Department.
Non urgent queries and prescription requests can be sent to rheumatologysecretaries@somersetft.nhs.uk.
To change an appointment, please call 01823 342750 or for queries regarding appointments for x-rays/scans call 01823 342300 or email rheumatologysecretaries@somersetft.nhs.uk.
Yeovil Hospital
The Rheumatology department is based on level 2 of the main hospital next to Queensway Day Unit.
Rheumatology Nurse Specialists
We offer a telephone advice service for existing patients with inflammatory arthritis 01935 384737
Specialist physiotherapist
Specialist physiotherapists assess and treats patients with inflammatory arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis in the therapy department 01935 384358
Specialist Occupational Therapist
01935 384215
Osteoporosis and Fracture Liaison Nurse Specialist
We run nurse-led clinics to manage, review and oversee osteoporosis treatments and provides a telephone advice service 01935 384569
Bone Density Service
Call:01935 384569
For changes to bone density appointments, please telephone radiology appointments: 01935 384576.