Rheumatology Outpatient Services at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN) Rheumatology outpatient services are provided at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (TQEH). The Rheumatology Unit provides inpatient and outpatient services for patients living in CALHN and rural areas who suffer from arthritis, inflammatory connective tissue disease and other musculoskeletal disorders.

Services include:

  • clinic consultations for diagnostic and management
  • clinical trials centre
  • infusion service
  • inpatient consultations
  • inpatient admission
  • joint aspiration / injection
  • rheumatological ultrasonography.

Appointment location

Rheumatology outpatients: c/o Orthopaedic and Rheumatology outpatients

Location: Outpatient Department

Outpatient Department, Ground Floor Area 2, Area 4
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Port Road SA 5000 

Location: Rheumatology Department

5C Tower Block  
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital
28 Woodville Road, Woodville SA 5011

Consultants at TQEH

  • Prof Catherine Hill – Head of Unit
  • A/Prof M Rischmueller
  • Dr Sam Whittle
  • Dr Simon Burnet
  • Dr Rachel Black
  • Dr Joanna Tieu
  • Ms Heather van der Haak (Rheumatology Outpatient Nurse)
  • Ms Christina Jukic (Rheumatology Infusion Nurse)

Clinics

A variety of ‘themed’ clinics according to the type of rheumatological condition operate Monday to Friday. This includes Rapid access clinics for emergency referrals.

Clinics provided:

  • rheumatoid arthritis clinic
  • spondylarthropathies clinic
  • pulmonary hypertension clinic
  • myositis / vasculitis clinic
  • connective tissue disease clinic
  • general rheumatology clinic
  • gout / injection clinic.

Although many rheumatological conditions require supervision from a rheumatologist long term, wherever possible, the objective of a rheumatology outpatient appointment is to provide an assessment of the patient, an opinion regarding the key clinical issues and advice to the patient and the referring practitioner over one to two visits followed by formal discharge from the clinic.

This particularly applies to slowly evolving conditions, which may have a longer waiting time for an appointment and for which specialised drug therapies and/or disease monitoring are not indicated.

Patients are generally seen by a Consultant Rheumatologist, either directly or in an overseeing role following inputs from a Registrar and/or a Specialist Nurse, depending on the reason for referral and the patient’s ongoing care needs.

GP information

Refer your patient

Fax referral to us

We accept GP and specialist referrals to this service. 

All referrals are triaged by the service according to clinical urgency. Patients requiring immediate assessment should be sent directly to the Emergency Department. 

To ensure appropriate and timely triage, include all demographic and clinical details as well as relevant investigation results.  

To make a referral

All referrals including those urgently requiring consultation must be in writing and a named referral is preferred.  In many cases patients will be sent a request for a blood test to be performed prior to their appointment.  This will assist both with assessment of urgency, and their initial clinic assessment.

Immediate referral

Where consultation is “same day” urgent, the Rheumatology registrar or the on call Rheumatology consultant if after hours should be contacted - via telephone TQEH (08) 8222 6000 to discuss the patient. A written referral marked URGENT should then be faxed (08) 8222 7188 or sent with the patient if urgent assessment arranged.

TQEH
Phone: (08) 8222 6000 (switchboard)
Fax:  (08) 8222 7188

Less urgent referrals

Preferred method of referral is by fax or letter.

Fax:  (08) 8222 7188

Appointment enquiries or to review or change an appointment.

TQEH
Phone: (08) 8222 7010
Fax:  (08) 8222 7188

Non-urgent referrals will be allocation to the next available appointment.  The waiting time for appointment will vary and be dependent on the demand for this service and the medical urgency of the patient’s condition.

Patient information

How to access this clinic

Referral from your general practitioner (GP)

You need a referral letter from your GP or medical practitioner to access this service.

Your doctor will need to fax your referral letter to us. We will be in contact with you within clinically recommended times, depending on waiting list length.  If there is no waiting list, you will receive an appointment booking letter or we will contact you to arrange a suitable time.

Please refer to the information sheets below for information regarding the outpatient service.

Please refer to the outpatient map below and present to your designated clinic on the day of your appointment.

Useful links for further information

Related resources

Medication information

Pulmonary arterial hypertension/scleroderma-access support