Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) appointments

• Make sure you have a list of your current medications and allergies
• Please arrive 15 minutes in advance of your appointment time
• We may ask you for a urine sample
• Sometimes it can help to write your symptoms and questions down

Symptom review: We will talk about:

• Your symptoms
• How long you have had them
• How they impact your daily life

Physical examination: May include examining your joints and other relevant areas

Education and support: You will have the chance to ask questions and get information about:

• Your condition
• Treatment options
• Potential side effects

Medication and lifestyle review:  We will review your current medication. We may also talk about lifestyle factors such as:

• Diet
• Exercise
• Smoking

Tests and investigations: Depending on your condition, you may need to provide a urine sample. You may also need blood tests, X-rays, or other investigations. You may have them during your appointment or at a future date.

Treatment discussion: We will go through possible treatment options with you. We will answer any questions you may have.

Planning ahead: We may arrange follow-up appointments to track your progress and adjust your treatment plan as needed.

Dress comfortably

Wear loose, comfortable clothing to allow for an easy physical examination.

Think about your symptoms

Be ready to talk about how your symptoms affect your work, social life, and overall well-being.

Ask questions

If you have any worries or need clarification, feel free to ask us. We’re here to help.

Information from other hospitals

It may be useful to bring any relevant letters or results from other hospitals outside of Northumbria Healthcare.

We will explain everything clearly and give you time to ask questions.

We may offer a follow-up appointment to review your progress and adjust treatment as needed. The intervals will depend upon how you are.

Within rheumatology, we can refer you to:

• Physiotherapy
• Occupational therapy
• Podiatry

We do not routinely ring patients with normal blood tests or x-ray results. If any investigation requires further action, we will contact you directly.

For follow-up appointments, we aim to schedule these within the time set out in your clinic letter, but this is not always possible.

If you are taking a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD), regular blood monitoring is important. This is to make sure your treatment remains safe and effective.

Your blood monitoring appointment is a quick visit with either a healthcare assistant or phlebotomist. They will simply take a blood sample.

It is not a consultation or review with a nurse of doctor. The appointment usually takes just a few minutes.

Your results will be reviewed by the rheumatology team. We will contact you if any action is needed. If everything is within the expected range, we will not contact you.

We ask some patients to attend a specialist rheumatology healthcare blood monitoring clinic for other important tests.

These may include:

• Metabolic bone health screening (e.g. calcium, Vitamin D, bone profile)
• Pre-biologic therapy screening. This includes tests for blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and measles
• Other non-routine or condition-specific tests we request

These tests are an important part of your assessment and treatment planning.

They help us ensure that your care is safe, personalised, and based on the latest clinical guidelines.

The appointment is with a trained healthcare professional who will take your blood sample. It is a quick and straightforward visit. It is not a consultation or review with a nurse of doctor.

If any follow-up is needed based on your results, we will contact you directly.