Who’s who in health services

Therapists work in different services and once you get to someone they should be able to assess the whole situation. The GP can refer you to all these professionals, or you can contact the different department and refer your child yourself.

Clinical Nurse Specialists

These are nurses who have additional training about arthritis. They work closely with consultants and can play an important role in helping to co-ordinate medical care. They also advise parents and children about medication and injections, and support families caring for a child with arthritis. They tend only to work in larger hospitals, and are often involved in research.

Consultants

These very experienced doctors have specialist qualifications in different kinds of medicine. They usually lead a team of different professionals who should work together to deliver particular clinical services.

Dieticians

Dieticians can give important help in caring for people who have nutritional or digestive problems caused either by psychological or physical conditions. They can give advise if there has been serious weight loss or gain, or where medical treatment has interfered seriously with normal diets (such as radiotherapy). They are usually hospital based.

General Practitioners (GPs/family doctors)

The GP is usually the first person to assess a child who is very unwell, and may start different kinds of tests (e.g. blood tests) to try to find out what illness the child has. Most GPs do not often come across children with arthritis, and are likely to refer the child to a specialist to confirm the diagnosis and begin a programme of specialist treatment.

Occupational Therapists

Occupational Therapists (O.T.s) work with carers and children to assess physical, psychological and education needs. They offer advice, equipment adaptations or training. The aim of occupational therapy is to help the young person achieve the highest possible level of independence for daily living at home, work or school. The assessment can take place in the occupational therapy department or school, but is usually most helpful if done at home, and includes the needs of other people who live there. They work for health services, social services and local authorities.

Orthopaedic Consultants

These doctors have specialist qualifications about diseases, injuries and disorders affecting the development and function of joints and bones.

Paediatric Rheumatologist

This consultant has special qualifications and experience dealing with all aspects of arthritis in children. There are only a relatively few of these specialists working in regional centres in the United Kingdom. Their expertise is especially helpful in the early stage of families learning how to manage childhood arthritis.

Pharmacists

Pharmacists are trained to understand and dispense medicines. Hospital pharmacists can usually only give you medicines for two weeks. Find a local pharmacist who you can easily ask questions. It is sometimes possible for them to arrange to collect your prescriptions from the GP for you, and to arrange to deliver the medicines to your home.

Physiotherapists

Physiotherapists (P.T.s) work with the children and carers, and they assess movement and mobility. They then deliver appropriate treatments such as exercises, manipulation, and heat treatments. They may teach a series of daily exercises at home. They are often involved with advice about mobility. They can advise carers on posture and how to lift safely. They work for health services or in the private sector.

Podiatrists

Podiatrists are concerned with all matters relating to the care and health of feet. They can make specialist innersoles and wedges worn within shoes to order to correct or protect the foot. There can be long waiting lists to see them in the NHS.

Rheumatologists

These specialist consultants have specialised qualifications in arthritis-related conditions and treatment. Most rheumatologists work with adults, but they may see some children with arthritis.