Vasculitis specialist clinic

[Devoid]

Hi recently diagnosed with LVV ,was wanting to know how to get referral to a specialist vasculitis clinic, under rheumatologist but at a very small local hospital,so don’t expect they see too many cases .

[PMRpro]

Depends where you live really.

[Echoblue]

I just gave a list of my symptoms to my usual GP and asked him to do the referral and he did it straight away. He sent my list of symptoms with the referral. I am very lucky that the appointment for the vasculitis clinic has come through extremely quickly and from referral to appointment, approx 6 weeks. I had expected at least double that so very relieved.

Good luck and I hope your GP is as supportive. You can google consultants/clinics in your area and see their specialism to aid your discussion with the GP to ensure you get to the right clinic.

[Devoid in reply to Echoblue]

Thanks for reply, the GP advised asking the rheumatologist consultant for a referral and I just wanted to know what route others had taken

[Main1234]

Might be worth contacting Vasculitis uk for a list of consultants who specialise in Vasculitis

[Mooka]

I was under my local hospital and asked to be referred on and they said it had to come from my GP. Thankfully my GP was happy to do so. I think you will need to know where you want to be referred to and the helpline should be able to help with that. I also got an appointment within weeks. I took all my letters and previous results with me as they like to start from scratch. Good luck.

[Devoid in reply to Mooka]

Thanks for that, I am speaking to the rheumatology nurse on Tuesday so I will ask if the consultant I have seen can do it,or back to GP ,have checked where they run specialist clinics both local ( 60 miles) or nationally, I think it’s important because I can’t believe a hospital as small as our local one is sees many cases

[Mooka]

I travel over 60 miles each way to Addenbrookes. My local hospital is a big one and has a Vasculitis clinic which I was never asked to attend. I was seeing renal registrars who were still in training and really didn’t have a clue I now have a MDT looking after me at Addenbrookes and feel I am getting the best treatment that I can. It has caused me problems when I have needed emergency care even being kicked out of my local hospital as I would be better off at Addenbrookes! The hospital doctor that I asked to refer me on did write to my GP to say that I had asked for the referral but that would have to come from GP. I think that helped enormously. Of course this was a few years ago and protocols change.