Rheumatology

We care for Adult patients with:

• Giant cell arteritis.
• Vasculitis
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
• Inflammatory Arthritis
• Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Refractory Gout
• Other Autoimmune Connective Tissue Diseases (Scleroderma, Myositis, Sjogren’s, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease)

Conditions not seen at Rheumatology Specialist Clinics at Ballarat Base Hospital:

Patients with the following common rheumatology conditions, in the absence of inflammatory symptoms** are unable to be accommodated at present in our rheumatology clinics:

• Osteoarthritis of the hand, hip and knees - consider referral to orthopaedics if clinically indicated
• Chronic pain syndromes including Fibromyalgia and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome - consider referral to alternative pain clinic
• Mechanical pain
• Low back pain and neck pain and spinal disc disease
• Shoulder pain
• Osteoporosis
• Ehlers Danlos Syndrome -consider referral to genetics clinic
• Positive blood tests without clinical symptoms* ie antinuclear antibody (ANA) or rheumatoid factor (RF)
• *Clinical symptoms: mouth/nasal ulcerations, Alopecia, Raynaud’s, Inflammatory Arthritis, Photosensitive rash, Proteinuria/Haematuria
• ** Inflammatory symptoms: Early morning stiffness, joint swelling, improvement with activity.

Patients can expect an initial assessment and follow up visit if needed.

Some condition require repeat visits for monitoring and for the specialist to organise further testing and prescriptions for certain medications.

If you are transitioning your care from a specialist outside of Ballarat, you can expect a request that you/your GP obtain relevant information.

A valid referral with recent investigations from your General Practitioner or Specialist is required. Referrals are also accepted from different medical units in hospital, however it is preferable if your GP coordinates referrals.

Each referral will be assessed based on greatest need and urgency for appointment.