There is currently a Rheumatology Day Unit, but this does not provide cover 24 hours a day, which is so desperately needed. There is currently no cover on weekends and bank holidays. 

Rheumatology patients requires continuous specialist care and attention, sometimes urgently.

Rheumatology covers all kinds of illnesses, including Systemic Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Wegeners Granulomatosis, Vasculitis and other auto immune diseases.

Quite often, auto immune disease patients can be treated as day cases and fight their condition between home and the day clinic. However, when things get worse, as they often do, the sufferer needs in patient care in a specialist ward. At the moment, there isn't one. 

Autoimmune disease potentially affects all organs in the body, so when a patient's condition requires urgent attention, the skills and knowledge of multiple specialists from different disciplines may be required all at the same time.  This can only be effectively coordinated from an in-patient facility.

 

Thank you