Patient support and self-help

The Rheumatology Advice Line

We provide a dedicated advice line for existing patients of the department who need help regarding their treatment or disease management.

The Rheumatology Advice Line: 01905 760461

We provide a dedicated advice line for existing patients of the department who need advice regarding their rheumatology treatment or disease management.  We do not deal with any appointment queries and advise you call the appointments line on 01562 512312 if your issue is related to your appointment.

The advice line is available Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) and we try to have a morning session and an afternoon session dependent on staffing and other clinical commitments.

It is an answerphone service; you will be asked to leave a message including your name and patient details either hospital or NHS number. Your call will be returned at our earliest convenience, and this may not be on the same day.

This is not an emergency line and we would advise that if you have an urgent problem you call your primary care service (GP) or 111.

Patient Initiated Follow-Up (PIFU)

What is PIFU? 

PIFU stands for patient initiated follow-up. The goal is to empower our patients and allow them to take greater control over their health and care.

How does PIFU work and when can it help me? 

PIFU allows patients greater control over their appointments. Instead of being offered regular routine clinic visits and check-ups with your rheumatologist, you can request your own appointment when you need it e.g. when experiencing a flare – putting you in control of your care.

Patient initiated follow-up can help reduce unnecessary visits to hospital, reduce patient waiting times and release clinical teams to see more patients in a timely manner.

Your clinician will inform you if PIFU is right for you. If selected for PIFU your clinician will provide you with an outline of the symptoms and signs to look for and when PIFU can help you.

How do I get in touch with the Rheumatology team? 

If you feel that you require a PIFU appointment, please call the Rheumatology Advice Line on 01905 760461.  Please leave your name, DOB, NHS or hospital number, and a contact number. The nursing team will triage your symptoms and confirm whether a PIFU appointment is the right choice for you.

When not to use PIFU

PIFU does not replace help for other conditions or emergencies; you may have PIFUs for other specialties.

For urgent medical attention, call your GP or 111. If you are very unwell, you should attend A&E.

Patient Information Leaflets

Below are some helpful Patient Information Leaflets for you to browse:

Homecare Delivery Details

As part of your treatment in the Rheumatology department, you may be receiving deliveries of your medication from a homecare company.

The details of the homecare companies we routinely use are detailed below. If you have any questions regarding your medication delivery arrangements, please get in touch with them using the options below. Some companies have the option of online contact forms for queries or live chat on their websites.

If they are not able to deal with your query or if you are running out of your medication you may also contact us on the advice line: 01905 760461.

Sciensus

(Previously Healthcare at Home).

www.Sciensus.com/patients

On-line contact form or web chat

Telephone: 0333 103 9499 Monday – Friday 8am – 6pm, Saturday 8am – 1pm.

Alcura

www.alcura-health.co.uk

E-mail: [email protected]

Telephone: 0800 012 1551 Monday – Friday 8am – 6.30pm, Saturday 9am- 1pm

Llyods Pharmacy Clinical Homecare

www.lpclinicalhomecare.co.uk

E-mail: [email protected]

Telephone: 0345 2636 123 Monday – Friday 8am – 5.30pm

Healthnet

www.healthnethomecare.co.uk

E-mail: [email protected]

Telephone: 08000 833060

On-line contact form or web chat

Pharmaxo

www.pharmaxohealthcare.com

E-mail: [email protected]

Telephone: 01225 302188

Celltrion CONNECT

www.celltrionconnect.co.uk

E-mail: [email protected]

Telephone: 01827 438775 Monday-Friday 9am- 5pm Saturday 9am-1pm.

How to dispose of your purple lidded (cytotoxic) sharps boxes after filling with methotrexate pens

The following list of pharmacies can take purple lidded (cytotoxic) sharps boxes ranging in size from 1L to 9L. Anything 1.8L or bigger will be most suitable to use. Each litre volume is about the space of 4 pens. We supply 3L bins from the hospital which hold up to 12 pens.

This list is correct as of 13 August 2024 from information supplied by Worcestershire Council and/or phone calls to the pharmacies. Regular updates will be available on the Rheumatology website – see details at end to access.

Peak Pharmacy	Bewdley Medical Centre, Dog Lane, Bewdley, Worcestershire DY12 2EF	Any size purple or yellow bin (upto 9L)
Morrisons Pharmacy	Buntsford Park Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. B60 3DX	Any size purple or yellow bin (upto 9L)
Evesham Currently no community pharmacy has a permit to take back any purple bins – please bring back to the Acute hospitals. You can also check with your GP, as some may be able to for their own patients (please check)
Cohen’s Pharnacy	Hume Street Medical Centre, Hume Street, Kidderminster Worcesterhisre DY11 6SF	Any size purple or yellow bin (upto 9L) – for their patients only
Church Street Pharmacy	David Corbet House, Callows Lane, Kidderminster, Worcestershire DY10 2JG	1L purple bin only
Lygon Pharmacy	84 Worcester Road, Malvern, Worcestershire. WR14 1NY	1L purple bin only
Peak Pharmacy	300 Pickersleigh Road, Malvern, Worcestershire WR14 2GP	Any size purple or yellow bin (upto 9L)
Malvern Pharmacy	75 Church St, Malvern, Worcestershire WR14 2AE	Any size purple or yellow bin (upto 9L)
Stock and Lindsay Pharmacy	3 Matchborough Centre, Redditch. B98 0EP	1L purple bin only
Woodrow Pharmacy	9 Woodrow Centre, Redditch, Worcestershire. B98 7RY	Any size purple or yellow bin (upto 4L)
York Pharmacy	14-15 York Street, Stourport-On-Severn, Worcs. DY13 9EF	1L purple bin only
J&J Pharmacy	177 Bath Road, Worcester, Worcestershire WR5 3AQ	Any size purple or yellow bin (upto 9L)
Peak Pharmacy	Turnpike House Medical Centre, 35 Newtown Road, Worcester, Worcestershire WR5 1HG	Any size purple or yellow bin (upto 9L)
Peak Pharmacy	Elbury Moor Health Centre, Fairfield Close, Worcester, Worcestershire WR4 9TX	Any size purple or yellow bin (upto 9L)
Peak Pharmacy	St Johns Medical Centre, 299 Bromyard Road, Worcester, Worcestershire WR2 5PB	Any size purple or yellow bin (upto 9L)
Peak Pharmacy	Barbourne Health Centre, 4 Droitwich Road, Worcester, Worcestershire WR3 7LH	Any size purple or yellow bin (upto 9L)
Scales Pharmacy	37-8 Upper Tything, Worcester, Worcestershire WR1 1JZ	Any size purple or yellow bin (upto 9L)
Scales Pharmacy	27 Lichfield Avenue, Worcester, Worcestershire WR5 1NW	Any size purple or yellow bin (upto 9L)
Scales Pharmacy	40-42 Astwood Road, Worcester, Worcestershire WR3 8EZ	Any size purple or yellow bin (upto 9L)
Victoria Pharmacy	146 Worcester Road, Worcester, Worcestershire WR14 1SS	Any size purple or yellow bin (upto 9L)

You can also return purple bins to the Rheumatology Department at Worcester, or the Outpatient departments at Alexandra or Kidderminster Hospital. In addition, the pharmacy at Alexandra Hospital can also take them.

Some GP surgeries can take back purple bins for their own patients – this should be checked individually not assumed.

To get a new bin you must request this on your repeat prescription from your GP, as you would request any medication. However, we also keep them in the Rheumatology department, or by arrangement at Kidderminster or Redditch (call advice line below).

If you have any further questions you can contact us via the Rheumatology Advice line tel 01905 760461 via answerphone (Monday-Friday). Please note, this is not an emergency service.

Monica Gauntlett                                  and                               Rachael Carr
Rheumatology Pharmacist                                                        Advanced Clinical Nurse Specialist

On behalf of the Rheumatology team at Worcestershire Acute Hospital NHS Trust.