Rheumatology

The Rheumatology Department is based in Level 2 of the hospital and is a multi-disciplinary team of doctors, specialist nurses, physiotherapists, radiographers, occupational therapists and administrative staff.

To ensure consistency in treatment across the region and to enable patients to receive specialist care as near to home as possible, they have a close working relationship with GPs and the rheumatology team at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton.

Patients can be referred from GP practices for diagnosis, treatment and, when appropriate, long-term management of patients with a range of musculoskeletal disorders including inflammatory arthritis, soft tissue rheumatism, osteoarthritis, connective tissue diseases and osteoporosis.

Outpatient clinics are held on Level 3 at Yeovil District Hospital and at the Yeatman Community Hospital, Sherborne and West Mendip Community Hospital, Glastonbury.

Last year an ambulatory day unit was opened, where patients can receive day case treatments.

The team are involved in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and take part in a PACES course for Part 2 MRCP at Taunton.

A wide range of information leaflets about specific conditions and drugs can be found on the website links to the right.

Rheumatology Clinic Times

Dr Knights
Yeovil Monday morning, every week
Yeatman Hospital 1st, 3rd, and 5th Tuesday morning of month
Yeovil 1st, 2nd and 4th Wedsnesday of month

Dr Colebatch
Yeovil Monday morning, every week
Yeovil 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th Monday afternoon of month
Crewkerne 4th Monday afternoon of month
West Mendip 1st Tuesday morning of month

Melanie Byfleet
Monday all day, Wednesday morning, Friday all day

Sue Chesterman
Friday pm – Physiotherapy led Injection Clinic

Clare Cockill
Monday am (1st in month) – hip fracture follow-up clinic with Dr Qadiri
Monday pm – Orthogeriatric ward round /fracture liaison
Tuesday – telephone follow up clinic
Wednesday am – Osteoporosis clinic
Thursday am – Orthogeriatric ward round /fracture liaison
Friday am (monthly) – Osteoporosis treatment clinic

Alison Hill: (Ambulatory Care Unit)
Tuesdays and Wednesdays – general rheumatology infusion treatments
Wednesday pm – Osteoporosis intravenous treatments