Rheumatology is the branch of medicine that looks after rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. These diseases are usually caused by problems in the immune system, inflammation, infections, or the gradual deterioration of joints, muscles and bones. The service covers the full range of adult rheumatological conditions, from osteoarthritis and soft tissue rheumatism to inflammatory arthritis and complex systemic disorders, such as connective tissue diseases and vasculitis. Osteoporosis assessment by a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan and an osteoporosis clinic are also part of our service and are held at Corbett Outpatient Centre. We hold routine clinics, specialty clinics and combined clinics with medical colleagues (chest physicians, renal physicians and dermatologists) and surgical colleagues (orthopaedic and ENT surgeons and ophthalmologists).

How to access the service

Outpatient services are provided on three of our Trust’s sites (Russells Hall Hospital, Corbett Outpatient Centre and Guest Outpatient Centre) with day case facilities and services provided at Russells Hall Hospital. The service is multidisciplinary with dedicated physiotherapy, occupational therapy, chiropody, orthotic and psychology sessions, supporting the medical and specialist nursing teams.

The rheumatology team aims to work closely with the community and primary care settings to provide shared care for chronic arthritic patients. Patients need to be referred to us via their GP, who must use the e-Referral Service. Referrals are triaged daily into urgent, suspected inflammatory arthritis or routine appointments.

We are delighted to provide an Advice and Guidance service to GPs. If a patient is already under the follow up care of a consultant rheumatologist, please contact that consultants’ secretary, if you need to get in touch.

The Oak Clinic is a friendly, comprehensive service that provides world class care, advice and information for those living with HIV.

We provide a confidential, non-judgemental service focusing on ‘person-centred’ care, integrating and co-ordinating diverse elements of a person’s healthcare needs with a clear focus to maintain good health .

Our service is open-access, which means you do not need to be referred to the clinic by a GP or other healthcare professional.

No information will be shared about you without your explicit consent.

Services include: 

Morning and afternoon clinics, a mix of both face to face and telephone consultations provided by specialist consultants and experienced specialist nurses.

Monday evening Nurse led clinics

Emergency walk-in appointments

Phlebotomy only clinics

Medication and Adherence

Referral pathways and links to other hospital specialties
accessed by the patient

Other services include:

Lifestyle and Wellbeing Clinics

We are committed to supporting Clinical Governance, Evidence Based Healthcare, Research, Leadership and Management programmes and Continuing Education to all employees of The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust and to students on placement within the Trust.

We achieve this by offering the following services:

• Access to books Health Libraries Midlands (HeLM)
• Interlibrary loans
• Access to NHS OpenAthens
• Literature searching
• 24/7 swipe access to facilities – quiet study areas, PCs, book loans using the ‘self serve’ kiosk and reference access to journals, with Trust ID badge.

For more information about any of the services we offer, please call (01384) 321077/8 or email us.

Opening times

The library is staffed during the following hours:

• Monday to Friday – 08:30-16:30

PCs and a study area are open to staff with a Trust ID card 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

OpenAthens

• Self registration
  To access online resources you need to register for an Athens user-name and password.
• Log-in
  If you already have a password you can log-on and search from here.

The Clinical Education Centre provides the infrastructure, support and guidance to deliver high-quality education and training to health professionals at The Dudley Group.

The department is responsible for coordinating all postgraduate medical training programmes, including the management of the foundation programme, the Internal Medicine Training (IMT) programme, and various specialty programmes. We also support and host regional teaching days and offer specialist clinical skills and simulation events.

Each specialty has a dedicated educational lead or college tutor who provides support and guidance to trainees. This lead also provides a link into the relevant postgraduate specialty school.

Doctors in training from F1 to ST8 are supported both clinically and administratively by a range of staff within the department. We host local teaching programmes and regularly contribute to regional training programmes in a variety of specialities.

The Cardiology department provides all cardiac related diagnostic tests which includes Invasive and non-invasive procedures ranging from Blood Pressure and ambulatory heart monitoring, Catheter Lab investigation’s, Echocardiography and Pacemaker Services. Routine 12 lead ECG  to every one who needs it, from neonatal to the elderly.

The department covers  Inpatients and Outpatients at Russells Hall Hospital.

The department is made up of 41 members of staff ranging from consultants, cardiographers, physiologists, associate practitioners, students and clerical officers

The Physiotherapy department provides care to patients across Dudley with help managing a musculoskeletal condition such as osteoarthritis, back pain, injuries sustained after an accident, work related conditions & sporting injuries as well as post operative care

We encourage patients to take an active role in their recovery that can help return to work and your normal everyday activities.

The service’s aim is to ensure that anyone with a musculoskeletal complaint can access the right clinician at the earliest point in their journey and is then subsequently supported within the service in a timely manner.  The service prides itself on embracing innovative practice to deliver high quality care within an environment that is accessible for individual patient needs.

Inpatient and Outpatient Services

Here at The Dudley Group we offer both inpatient and outpatient facilities.

Inpatient services

Inpatient physiotherapy services aims to restore function and promote independence, while maintaining your dignity and privacy. This may include getting you mobile again, giving you an exercise programme to increase your strength or practising getting up and down the stairs. This is all aimed at getting you home as fit as possible.

Your participation in therapy is essential to gain maximum function and you will have the opportunity to agree a treatment plan with your therapists in order to achieve your goals.

Outpatient services

Our outpatient service provides assessment and management of patients with a variety of conditions including:

• Musculoskeletal
• Respiratory medicine
• Women’s health
• Vestibular rehabilitation
• Amputee rehabilitation

Your appointment

Once we have received a referral from your GP/consultant, you will be contacted via letter. It is your responsibility to organise your first appointment.  If you are unable to make your appointment, please contact the department as soon as possible so we can rearrange and offer it to someone else.

If you do not attend your initial or follow up appointments, you must contact the department within 28 days to reschedule or you will be discharged from this service.

If you have any specific requirements with regards to interpreter, gender preference or chaperone, please notify the team when booking your appointment.

Treatment options 

Exercise Therapy – Including individualized home-based exercises to improve your muscle strength, increase your joint range of movement, and improve balance and general fitness

Open Gym Classes – we have a gym space to allow you to use more specialised equipment that you may not have at home to help progress your rehabilitation guided by our team of physiotherapists

Joint Health Programme– Group exercise class to enable long term self-management of hip and Knee Osteoarthritis

The Patient Advice and Liaison Service, known as PALS, helps the NHS listen to patients, their relatives, carers and friends. We aim to answer questions and resolve concerns as quickly as possible.

We know it can be a worrying and confusing time when you or someone you know is unwell. If you have concerns about your care, you can speak to any member of staff caring for you. However, if they cannot help you or you do not feel comfortable talking to them, you can contact the PALS team.

PALS can:

• Provide you with information about the hospital or the NHS and help you with any other health-related enquiry
• Help resolve concerns or problems
• Provide information about the NHS complaints procedure and how to get independent help if you decide you may want to make a complaint
• Inform you about how you can get more involved in your own healthcare and the NHS locally

You do not have to pay for any prescriptions or medication you receive while you are an inpatient.

Outpatient prescriptions are subject to the same charges as those you would receive from your GP. Click here for up-to-date information about how much you will pay for your prescription and to find out if you eligible for free prescriptions.

Dudley Formulary

Where can you find us?

Russells Hall Hospital

Monday to Friday                            9am – 7pm

Weekends and bank holidays     9.30am – 5pm

Corbett Outpatient Centre

Monday to Friday                            9am – 1:15pm    2pm – 5pm

Weekends and bank holidays     Closed

Guest Outpatient Centre

Monday to Friday                            9am – 1:15pm    2pm – 5pm

Weekends and bank holidays     Closed

The Dermatology service provides treatment of skin conditions. The service also provides removal of skin lesions. The service can be accessed via GP referral.

Clinic times:

• Monday – 13.00-16.00
• Tuesday – 13.00-16.00
• Wednesday – 12.30-15.00

For an out-of-hours call or in case of emergency, call Russells Hall Hospital on (01384) 456111.

This service is available at:

• Community Health & Social Care Centres

Please note that the information on this page is currently under review.

The Dermatology unit is located at Corbett Hospital Outpatient Centre and Russells Hall Hospital. It is purposely-designed unit based at the Corbett Hospital site, providing patients with fully equipped treatment rooms and up-to-date ultraviolet treatment machines.

The dermatology team utilise day case theatre facilities for surgical procedures within the outpatient centre. The team are also involved with rapid access referral and diagnosis of skin cancers, in combined clinics with the plastic surgery service.

Consultant-led clinic times

Russells Hall Hospital

• Tuesday – Morning and afternoon
  For rapid access referral and diagnosis of skin cancers in combined clinics with plastic surgery advice

Corbett Hospital Outpatient Centre

• Monday – Morning and afternoon
• Tuesday – Morning and afternoon
• Wednesday – Morning and afternoon
• Friday – Morning

Guest Hospital Outpatient Centre

• Friday – Morning

Nurse-led clinic times

• Monday to Friday – Morning and afternoon

This service is available at:

• Russells Hall Hospital
• Corbett Hospital Outpatient Centre
• Guest Hospital Outpatient Centre

Please note that the information on this page is currently under review.