Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust Logo

Tel: 01271 322577    Our charity | News | GP area | Video consultations | Live waiting times

Tel: 01271 322577

Live waiting times

Video consultations

Advanced search

On 1 April 2022, the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust (RD&E) and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust (NDHT) formally merged to become the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. The information on this website remains correct and will continue to be updated. A single site for the Royal Devon has launched and you will be automatically redirected there where appropriate.

  • Home
  • About
  • Patients and visitors
  • Our services
  • Have your say
  • Work with us
  • Contact us
  • Menu
Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust > Our Services > Rheumatology > Patient information > Conditions information

Conditions information

Use the links below to find out more about specific rheumatological conditions.

  • Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Giant Cell Arteritis
  • Gout
  • Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
  • Lupus
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Polymylagia Rheumatica
  • Pseudogout
  • Psoriatic Arthritis
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Scleroderma
  • Sjögren’s syndrome
  • Vasculitis

Can’t find the illness you’re looking for? Try the link below.

Other conditions

Last updated: February 6, 2020

  • Diabetes Service
    • Diabetes
      • Diabetes Service
      • Diabetes Week 2019
      • Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Week (1-7th April 2019)
      • About my annual review?
      • Meet the staff
      • Type 1 diabetes
      • Type 2 diabetes
    • Paediatric Diabetes
    • Adult Services Provided
    • Emotional wellbeing
    • Medication
      • Pharmacy support
    • Education
      • Oviva
      • BARNI
      • Diabetes patient information videos
      • Diabetes UK
      • Diabetes Service patient information leaflets
      • Useful Links
    • Eyes
      • Diabetic Eye Screening Programme
      • Want to know more?
    • Diet
      • What help can I get?
      • Eat Well Wednesday
      • How can I access the service?
    • Feet
      • What should I check?
      • What should I do in an emergency?
      • How can I access the service?
      • What is my level of risk of foot problems?
      • Want to know more?
    • Diabetes Healthcare Professional
      • Link Nurse Programme Overview
        • April Meeting 2020
        • February Meeting 2020
        • October Meeting 2019
        • January Meeting 2019
        • April Meeting 2019
        • July Meeting 2019
      • Podiatry (diabetes service)
      • Dietitians
      • Medication
    • North Devon Integrated Diabetes Service
      • Why do we need a North Devon Integrated Diabetes Service?
      • How will we create a North Devon Integrated Diabetes Service?
      • Who are we and who is involved with the North Devon Integrated Diabetes Service?
        • Project team
        • Clinical engagement
      • The North Devon Integrated Diabetes Service – what are we going to do differently?
        • Primary Care access to Specialist Diabetes Team
        • Improving access and timely referral to community podiatry services
        • Improving access to the multi-disciplinary footcare team
        • Improving access to healthy lifestyle support
        • Every contact counts towards lifestyle change
        • Ensuring same standard of diabetes care at home
        • Creating place-based offers of support
        • Improved and consistent patient access to targeted education resources
      • Find events in your area…
        • Ilfracombe Diabetes Support & Advice Group
        • North Devon Diabetes Support Group
    • Diabetes news & blog
    • Diabetes events
      • Facebook page
      • Support groups
      • Wellbeing events
  • Accident & Emergency A&E ED
  • Emergency Department
  • Pathfinder Service
  • Dermatology service (Litchdon Medical Centre)
  • Living With and Beyond Cancer
    • Personalised cancer care
    • Cancer services
    • Parking and travel
    • Finance and work
    • Staying healthy
    • Patient support
      • Physical concerns
      • Practical concerns
      • Family concerns
      • Emotional concerns
      • Spiritual concerns
    • Carer support
    • Cancer and you
    • Events and virtual support
    • MySunrise patient information app
    • Contact us
  • North Devon Cancer Care Counselling Service Referral Form
  • North Devon Cancer Care Counselling Service Group Support Referral Form
  • HOPE Course Referral Form
  • Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) service at NDDH
    • Help with travel
    • ENT patient information
  • Audiology
    • Opening Hours
    • Meet the Team
    • Community Locations
    • Audiology patient information leaflets
    • Helpful videos
    • Audiology videos
    • Contact Us
    • Refreshments & Toilet facilities
    • Provide Feedback
    • Battery Replacement Service
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Paediatric Audiology
    • Tinnitus Service
    • Balance Service
    • Microsuction service
    • Sight and Hearing service and Devon Sensory Team (Devon County Council)
    • Useful Links
  • Care homes team
    • Care homes team
      • What we do
      • Collaborative partners
      • Related press releases, awards & news
      • Team members
        • Rebecca Young
        • Meg Hill
        • Emma Bartrop
      • Care home teams newsletters and other newsletters
        • Devon Cares Provider Newsletters
        • Provider Engagement Network (Devon County Council)
        • Devon CPN newsletters
      • Service agreement
      • You said, we did
    • What’s on
    • Training and education
      • Care Homes Team education/training packages
      • Training opportunities (other organisations)
      • Virtual training 2021/2022
    • Collaboration opportunities
      • North Devon Care Homes Team kitchen table event
      • Red bag scheme
      • Clinical supervision networks
      • Community Services Collaboration Meetings
    • Resources specific to care homes (residential and nursing)
      • Hospital admissions/discharges resources
      • Central Alerting System
      • Outbreaks
      • CQC
      • National minimum data set
      • Safeguarding
        • Modern slavery
      • Recruitment and staff management
        • Disclosure and barring
      • Care certificate
      • Local and national policies
      • Nursing Midwifery Council
      • Equipment
    • Topic specific resources
      • Hearing loss
      • Music for Dementia
      • Activities/meaningful occupation
      • HSE
      • Care plans
      • Consent
      • Continuing healthcare
      • Dignity
      • Epilepsy
      • Acute kidney injury (AKI)
      • LGBT
      • Medication
      • Frailty
      • Infection control
      • Bladder and bowel/continence
      • Delirium
      • GDPR
      • Dementia
      • Learning disability
      • NICE
      • Nutrition and hydration
      • Oral health
      • Sepsis
      • Communication
      • Documentation
      • Multiple sclerosis
      • Mental capacity
      • Mouth care
      • Older people
      • Patient safety
      • Physical activity
      • Safeguarding
      • SALT
      • Sexuality
      • Skills for care resources
      • Skin/pressure damage
      • UTI
      • Yellow card (for healthcare professionals)
    • Contact
  • Lymphoedema Service
  • Community Rehabilitation Service
  • Paediatric Bladder and Bowel Care Service
    • Where the service is provided
    • How to be referred
    • Before you come to a bladder and bowel appointment
    • What happens at a bladder and bowel clinic appointment?
    • Bladder and Bowel Service leaflets, charts, advice leaflets and other helpful links
  • End of life care
  • Cardiac support services
    • Arrhythmia service
      • North Devon defib newsletter
    • Cardiac Rehabilitation service
      • BHF Colin’s story [video] and useful links
      • BHF publications
      • Team and Contact Details
    • Heart Failure service
      • Heart failure – what is it?
      • Useful links
      • BHF publications & the drugs used for treatment of chronic heart failure
      • Team and Contact Details
    • Cardiology Patient Information leaflets
  • Cardio Respiratory Department
    • Department Opening hours
    • Finding us
    • Meet the team
    • Cardio-Respiratory test times
    • Cardio-Respiratory Investigation information
    • Contact us
  • Nutrition and Dietetics
    • Meet the team
    • Contact us
    • Our Vision and Our Objectives
    • About our service
    • How to be Referred?
    • Nutrition and Dietetics patient information leaflets
    • Nutrition and Dietetics patient information videos
    • Enteral feeding videos
    • Specialist weight management service
    • Diabetes service
    • Useful links
  • Northern Rapid Intervention Centre (RIC)
    • Opening Hours
    • Northern Rapid Intervention Centre (RIC) patient information leaflets
  • Bowel & Bladder Care
    • Bowel & Bladder Care patient information leaflets
    • Bowel & Bladder Care links
    • CONfidence app
  • Salaried Dental Service
    • Online referral form
    • Medical History Form
  • Dental service (salaried)
  • Critical Care, Intensive Care and High Dependency Care
  • Day Surgery Unit
  • Speech & Language Therapy
    • Meet the team
    • Contact and referrals
    • Specialist Learning Disability Team
    • Other specialist services
    • Paediatric Speech & Language Therapy services
    • Feedback
    • Speech & Language Therapy information videos
    • Information leaflets
    • Useful links
  • Colorectal
    • Meet the team
    • What to expect when you come to hospital
    • How we decide on the best course of treatment
    • Patient-led support
    • Colorectal patient Information Leaflets
    • Follow Up Procedure
    • Colorectal/Stoma nursing service
    • Colorectal Charitable Fund
    • Useful Telephone Numbers
  • Cancer Services
    • Cancer Services patient information leaflets
  • Cancer services
    • About
    • Patients and visitors
      • Your visit
      • Diagnosis
      • Cancer types
      • Treatment
      • Supportive therapies
      • Personalised care
      • Research
    • Support services
    • Contact us
    • Patient experience
    • Information for GPs
  • Anaesthetics
    • How anaesthetics work and are given
    • Who are anaesthetists?
    • Side effects
    • Risks and complications
    • Services provided by the Anaesthesia Department at NDDH
    • Premedication
    • Where can I find more information?
  • Chemotherapy and Day Treatment Unit
    • What we do
    • Feeling unwell
    • The Staff
    • Further information
    • Chemotherapy & Day Treatment Unit – Patient Information leaflets
  • Cardiology
    • What services are available?
    • Referred services
    • Contact Us
    • Cardiology patient information videos
    • Useful links
    • Contact form
  • Community Nursing Service
  • Rheumatology old
  • Rheumatology
    • Contact
    • Rheumatology follow-up appointments
    • Services
      • Nurse advice line
      • Nurse-led Clinics
      • Hydrotherapy
      • Occupational Therapy Clinics
      • Patient education group
      • Podiatry
    • Meet the team
      • Medical team
      • Nursing team
      • Physiotherapy
      • Occupational therapy
      • Other team members
    • Patient information
      • Conditions information
        • Ankylosing spondylitis
        • Fibromyalgia
        • Giant cell arteritis
        • Gout
        • Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
        • Lupus
        • Osteoarthritis
        • Polymyalgia rheumatica
        • Osteoporosis
        • Pseudogout
        • Psoriatic arthritis
        • Rheumatoid arthritis
        • Scleroderma
        • Sjögren’s syndrome
        • Vasculitis
        • Other conditions
      • Medications information
        • Biologics
        • Bio-Similars
        • Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs
        • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)
        • Steroids
    • Rheumatology videos
    • Virtual Clinic Pilot
  • General Surgery
    • Paediatric Surgery
      • Meet the team
        • Mr David Sanders
        • Dr Guy Rousseau
        • Dr Tony Laycock
      • Services provided and procedures performed
      • How to refer
      • Useful links
    • Specialist hernia and abdominal wall surgery
      • Meet the team
        • Mr David Sanders
      • Services provided and procedures performed
      • How to refer
      • Useful links
    • Upper GI Surgery
      • Meet the team
        • Mr David Sanders
        • Mr Anjum Arain
        • Mr David Bunting
        • Mr Maciej Pawlak
        • Mr John Findlay
      • Services provided and procedures performed
      • How to refer
      • Patient information
      • Useful links
      • Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and Bile duct exploration
    • Work for us
  • Health and Social Care
  • NHS Continuing Health Care
  • Community Equipment Service
  • Community Children’s Nursing Team
  • Breast unit
    • Meet the team
    • Breast clinics
    • Referrals
    • Breast awareness
    • Breast symptoms
      • Breast pain
      • Nipple discharge
      • Breast lump
    • Breast cancer
      • Investigations
      • Breast cancer videos
      • Treatment
      • Surgery
      • Radiotherapy
      • Chemotherapy
      • Hormone treatment (endocrine)
    • Breast screening
    • Open access follow-up
      • Who to contact if you have a concern
      • Symptoms you may want to report
      • Long-term side-effects of breast cancer treatment
    • Support
      • Local support groups
      • Financial support
    • Breast patient information leaflets
    • Useful websites
  • Fracture Clinic
    • Fracture clinic videos
      • Living with a cast
      • Living with a sling
      • Living a cervical collar
      • Using crutches
      • Support videos for healthcare professionals
  • Special Care Unit
    • Where is the unit?
    • The South West Neonatal Network
    • Our Philosophy Of Care
    • Visiting
    • Parent accommodation
    • Parent facilities
    • Parent Support Group
    • Our Staff
    • Car Parking
    • Information Leaflets
    • Patient and Family Liaison Services (PALS)
    • Layout of SCU
  • Infection Prevention and Control
    • Hand Hygiene
    • MRSA
    • Outbreaks of infections and their control
    • Protecting people from infections within our Trust
    • Screening and risk assessing for infection
    • What should I do if I have any concerns?
    • Infection Prevention and Control patient information leaflets
    • Infection Prevention and Control patient information videos
    • Hospital cleanliness
    • Policies
    • Annual Reports
  • Research and Development Department
    • Clinical Trial Performance at Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust
    • Research news
    • Contact us
  • Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC)
  • Orthoptics
    • Why might I be referred to the service?
    • Extended roles in Orthoptics
  • Safeguarding Service
    • Who we are
    • How to access the service
    • Safeguarding Adults
      • Care Direct
    • Safeguarding Children
    • MASH
    • Mental Capacity Act / Liberty Protection Safeguards
  • Urology
    • Urology videos
    • Urology patient information leaflets
  • Persistent Pain Team
    • Our team
    • Referrals
    • Contact us
    • Pain patient information videos
    • Feedback
    • Understanding pain and your body
    • Resources to help you manage
    • How you feel
  • The Centre Sexual Health
  • Sexual Health
  • Learning Disability Service
    • For Patients
    • For Carers
    • For Staff
    • Learning Disability Service patient information videos
  • Podiatry Services
    • How can I access the service?
    • Podiatry follow-up appointments
    • Who is eligible for treatment? (Current assessment criteria)
    • Basic nail care
    • Toe nail surgery
    • Think Feet Happy Feet
    • Podiatry videos
    • Where can I access the service?
    • I don’t fit the access criteria can I get treatment?
    • Where can I find more information?
    • Contact details
  • Physiotherapy
    • Locations
      • Bideford Community Hospital
      • Holsworthy Community Hospital
      • Ilfracombe (Tyrrell) Hospital
      • North Devon District Hospital (NDDH)
      • South Molton Community Hospital
      • Torrington Community Hospital
    • Outpatient Physiotherapy patient information leaflets
    • Physiotherapy patient information videos
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Useful Links
  • Stroke Services
    • Staples Ward (Stroke Unit) – North Devon District Hospital
      • Our Standards of practice
      • Discharge planning
      • How can I help?
    • About Stroke and TIA
    • Early Supported Discharge (ESD) Service
    • Vista Service
    • The Stroke Team
    • Award winning service
    • A Typical Patient Journey
    • Stroke Services patient information leaflets
    • Stroke Services patient information videos
    • Community Services
    • Outpatients services
    • Patient experience and feedback
    • Apps for recovery – mytherappy
  • Endoscopy
    • What is Endoscopy?
    • Gemini suite philosophy
    • Pre assessment
    • Before you procedure
    • After your procedure
    • Endoscopy patient information videos
    • Bowel cancer screening
    • Endoscopy FAQs
    • Endoscopy patient information leaflets
    • Endoscopy news
    • Contact us
  • Ophthalmology (eye)
    • Our Locations
    • Why choose us?
    • History of the Ophthalmology Department
    • Services
      • Cataract Surgery Service
      • Certification of Visual Impairment
      • Facial Dystonia
      • Corneal Service
      • Glaucoma Service
      • Ocular Prosthetics
      • Oculoplastic / Lacrimal Surgery
      • Optometry
      • Orthoptic Service
      • Paediatric ophthalmology
      • Pre-operative assessment
      • Surgical Retina
    • Eye surgery
    • Hospital Appointments
    • Ophthalmology (eye) Emergency Service
    • Ophthalmology patient information leaflets
    • Local Support Groups
    • Charitable donations
    • Contact Us
    • Useful Links
      • National Organisations
      • International Organisations
      • Professional Organisations
      • Communication and Education
  • Radiology (x-ray)
    • Radiology patient information leaflets
    • Radiology x-ray opening times
    • Radiology support videos
      • MRI Scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) videos
      • Ultrasound videos
    • Contact for careers information
  • Maternity
    • Maternity Patient Information Leaflets
    • Maternity Tour
    • Car parking
    • Useful links
    • Infant feeding
    • Special Care Unit
    • Maternity procedural documents
    • North Devon Maternity Services Self-Referral Form
  • Outpatient appointments
    • Drive-through at NDDH
    • Patient-initiated follow-up appointments
  • Private Patients
    • Consultant Details
      • Mr Karl Whittaker
      • Dr Andrew Davis
      • Mr Nikolas Jagodzinski
      • Mr Muhammed Razzaq
      • Dr Dushen Tharmaratnam
      • Mr Achim Nestel PhD MRCOphth
      • Mr David Williams
      • Mr David Sanders
      • Mr Soumya Misra MS, FRCS (Urol)
      • Mrs Katie Cross
      • Miss Cheryl M Baldwick
      • Dr Stuart D Kyle MBChB MRCP
      • Dr Christopher Gibbs MD FRCP
      • Mr Richard Cove
      • Dr Lucy Miller
      • Mr David Bunting
      • Mr Luke Brunton
    • Referrals
    • Charges and Fees
    • Contact Us
  • Gynaecology
  • Supportive & Palliative Care Team
    • Palliative care videos
  • Palliative Care – please see ‘Supportive and Palliative Care’
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Department
    • Who are we?
    • How do I access the Oral & Maxillofacial Service?
    • Emergency/Out-of-Hours Service
    • Patient Feedback
  • Paediatrics (Children’s services)
  • Orthodontics
    • Orthodontics patient information leaflets
  • Pre-operative assessment
  • Theatres
  • Haematology
    • When would I be referred to Haematology?
    • Haematology treatments and procedures
    • Haematology contact phone numbers
    • Haematology staff
    • Haematology opening hours
    • Haematology patient user/support groups
    • Virtual clinic pilot
  • Tissue Viability
    • Pressure ulcers
    • Pressure Ulcer Prevention
    • Pressure ulcer videos
  • Independent Living Centre
  • Trauma and Orthopaedics
    • What treatments are offered?
    • Where can I find more information?
  • Orthopaedics
  • X-ray
  • Children’s services
  • Eye
  • Bladder and Bowel Care Service – children
  • Simulation Suite
    • Clinical Simulation Suite
    • Our manikins
    • Current activities
  • Respiratory Service
    • North Devon ILD Support Group
    • Respiratory Patient-initiated follow-up (PIFU) appointment
      • Respiratory Patient-initiated follow-up (PIFU) appointment
  • Healthcare records
  • Organ donation
  • Acute Oncology Service
    • Where the service is provided
    • Yellow Alert Card – getting the help you need
    • The Acute Oncology Service Team
  • Diabetes – North Devon Integrated Diabetes Service
  • Cancer – Living With and Beyond Cancer
  • Leg Ulcer Service
    • The team
    • Service approach
    • Leg ulcer patient information videos
    • Contact
  • Gastroenterology – Inflammatory Bowel Disease Service
  • Pharmacy Service
  • Weight management service
  • Surgical Appliance/Orthotic department
  • Orthotic department
  • Medical Assessment Unit MAU
  • Specialist weight management service
    • Referring patients
    • Attend Anywhere
    • OSCAR platform
      • Introduction to the programme
      • Reflecting on past experiences
      • Skills to support behaviour change
      • Healthy eating behaviour (WHAT?)
      • Healthy eating behaviour (HOW?)
      • Healthy eating behaviour (WHY?)
      • Physical Activity
      • Reviewing and continuing progress
      • Bariatric Surgery
      • Physiotherapist Resources
    • Contact us
  • Neurological Rehabilitation Outpatients
  • Multiple Sclerosis Service
    • Multiple Sclerosis related videos

Please visit our COVID-19 information page to see the latest information

Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust
North Devon District Hospital
Raleigh Park
Barnstaple
Devon
EX31 4JB

Tel No: 01271 322577
Minicom: 01271 322746
Email: ndht.contactus@nhs.net

Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Subscribe to our YouTube channel

Over and Above (hospital charity)
Devon Salaried Dental Service
Integrated Care System for Devon
Devon Sexual Health
Devon & Cornwall SARC
NDHT Jobs

Sign up to our news
Help & Feedback
Disclaimer, Privacy and Cookies
Privacy Notice
Staff area
GP area
Live waiting times

Accessibility

care opinion logo

NHS 111
NHS Choices

A SiteOrigin Theme
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Accessibility by WAH