Endocrinology

The following services and clinics are provided:

• General endocrinology
• Neuroendocrinology, pituitary disease
• Thyroid disease, thyroid nodules and cancer
• Lipid disorders
• Osteoporosis, metabolic bone disease and calcium disorders
• Pituitary conditions: surgery, outpatient and inpatient care including acromegaly, Cushing’s syndrome, prolactinomas, non-functioning pituitary adenoma, craniophayngioma. Pituitary hormone replacement including adult growth hormone deficiency after traumatic brain injury
• Adrenal disorders including Addison’s disease, congenital adrenal hyperplasia and indicentalomas.
• Reproductive endocrinology including adult sex hormone deficiency, hypogonadism, induction of spermatogenesis and ovulation. Polycystic ovary syndrome.
• Endocrinology care for patients with late effects of cancer treatment and brain tumours
• Endocrine surgery case work up including imaging, hyperparathyroidism, thyroid nodules, adrenal tumours.
• Endocrine disorders in pregnancy (thyroid, calcium, pituitary)
• Structured patient education (one-to-one or group education)
• Dynamic endocrine investigations

The endocrinology department is supported by expert consultant endocrinologists who specialise in different areas within the specialty. Dr Baldeweg leads in pituitary and bone disease, Prof Betteridge in lipid disorders, Prof Conway in reproductive disorders, Dr Chung in adrenal conditions and Dr Hurel in thyroid disease.

We have the first consultant nurse in Endocrinology to be appointed in the UK and two clinical nurse specialists. The main focus of their role is to provide patient support and education especially at initiation of new treatments, continuation of care and coordination of services between different care settings. They also play an important role in the transition care from paediatric to adult service and work closely with the paediatric team at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Our nurse specialists also organise regular patient open days to give an opportunity for more in depth education and shared experience.

Endocrine care is normally provided at both secondary and tertiary care levels on a long-term basis. Many conditions are reviewed in multidisciplinary meetings (MDM) on a routine basis with MDMs for pituitary, thyroid, endocrine surgery, reproductive medicine and general endocrinology occurring on a weekly basis.

Shared care protocols are in place when GPs are involved in patient care and monitoring. It is routine practice to provide written reports to GPs following each patient's clinic visit or admission; patients always receive a copy of the letter which is followed by telephone consultations when necessary.