Rheumatology

Rheumatology services

Rheumatology is a medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in the joints such as rheumatoid arthritis, and autoimmune connective tissue diseases like lupus.

Rheumatology divides cases of arthritis into osteo-arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Osteo-arthritis involves a general breakdown of joint cartilage over time. This causes inflammation and joint pain, which is treatable with anti-inflammatories.

Rheumatoid arthritis is more systemic - a painful swelling in all or most joints at once.

Our rheumatology services include:

• an outpatient service at Tauranga Hospital and Whakatāne Hospital
• a paediatric rheumatology clinic at Tauranga Hospital.
• some inpatient care of rheumatology patients who are admitted under general medicine.

 

More information

• arthritis.org.nz Arthritis New Zealand