Heartbeat: Lupus clinic is centre of excellence
September 30, 2019
The lupus unit at City Hospital has been reconfirmed as a centre of excellence by national charity Lupus UK.
Vice Chair and Trustee Yvonne Norton MBE commented: “The facility at City Hospital continues to fulfil all the criteria required to remain a Lupus UK Centre of Excellence. We are pleased that the relationship between City Hospital lupus unit and the renal lupus unit clinic at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital continues to work so well.
“Considering the age and cramped conditions of the hospital building, you are doing an admirable job in conducting clinics and consultations and the harmonious relationship that is evident between all team members is far above that found in many more modern centres.”
Lupus is a debilitating disorder of the immune system known as an autoimmune disease. Patients with lupus typically experience their immune system turning against parts of the body it is designed to protect, leading to inflammation and damage to various body tissues. Currently there is no cure for lupus, however effective treatments can ensure people with the disease can lead active, healthy lives. Birmingham lupus clinics (including City, Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Birmingham Women’s Hospital) were appointed the first Lupus UK Centre of Excellence in 2005. Professor Caroline Gordon recalled the excitement that generated for staff. She said: “Patient safety is our number one priority, and all our staff were delighted then to be recognised as working for a centre of excellence, as much as we are to have our status reconfirmed today. We are proud to provide both an excellent clinical service and active research unit, aiming to improve outcomes of the disease.
“Our patients always come first and with lupus being a lifetime condition, we are able to form lasting relationships with our patients as we see them through the highs and lows of their symptoms. As we work with them to continue our research into the condition we hope to improve treatments which will enhance quality of life for those living with the disorder.”
“Following my retirement I am still providing support for research and clinical advice if needed as Emeritus Professor of Rheumatology whilst John Reynolds – our new Senior Clinical Lecturer – continues my routine NHS clinical work.
“However there are many other people involved in the care of lupus patients (too many to name), and I am most grateful to everyone for all their contributions to clinical management and research and for making our lupus service such a success.”
Rebecca Gilman, Lupus Research Clinical Nurse Specialist added: It’s hugely important to be a Lupus UK Centre of Excellence because it matters to lupus patients. Our patients tell us it is difficult having an unpredictable condition, and so it is important that their condition is managed well. They tell us they want experienced clinicians using well established treatments in a logical and standardised way.
“As lupus is not common it takes time to build up this experience, and patients tell us they want to be able to come to a centre that has been checked independently. Lupus UK do this with their Centre of Excellence assessment, and if awarded, this status independently validates that staff at the awarded centre really do understand the condition, lupus patients and they will be giving them the best possible care and treatment.
“I’m proud that we continue to offer nationally and internationally renowned care locally to the Birmingham population, as well as to those patients who choose to travel from across the UK to us. I’m also proud to be working in a team that continues to offer best lupus practice and care, is at the forefront of research for care and treatments to continue to improve patients’ futures, and in teaching clinicians and practitioners of the future, as it has done since first receiving Clinical Excellence status in 2005.”
Long-time patient Angela McNab who has lived with lupus for nearly 30 years agrees, as she explained: “The experience of being treated at City Hospital is a positive one, because they allow me to be part of the management of my disease.”