Endocrinology

What is Endocrinology?
Endocrinology is the branch of medicine dealing with disorder of the endocrine system and its specific secretions, called hormones.

The Department of Endocrinology provides a comprehensive referral service for patients with all forms of hormone conditions. There are 3 dedicated Endocrine Clinics each week for patients with disorders of the thyroid, adrenal and pituitary glands, male and female hormone disorders, obesity and calcium metabolism.

Hormone Investigation Unit
This unit investigates complex conditions in a day case setting. It is staffed by 2 specialist Endocrine Nurses who are fully trained to administer the tests. Specialist clinics/services are run by the unit for patients referred from colleagues in Staffordshire and Shropshire. This department is fully supported by the Department of Clinical Biochemistry with a full range of analysis in blood and urine samples. The department maintains several registers of patients with uncommon conditions and performs its own audit of outcomes, as well as contributing to National Audits. The department is responsible for supervising the training of 3 young doctors learning the speciality.

Speciality Clinics and Meetings

Pituitary Tumour Clinic
The department operates a Pituitary Tumour Clinic on the 1st Monday of every month. A meeting is held to discuss and plan treatment for pituitary tupatients, and is followed by a dedicated Pituitary Tumour Clinic, run jointly with the pituitary surgeons.

Endoscopic pituitary surgery, performed at University Hospital is offered to North Midlands & Shropshire patients.

Thyroid Cancer
There is a Multidisciplinary Team meeting held jointly with the ENT surgeons, the clinical oncologist and radiologist to discuss patients with thyroid cancer.

Neuroendocrine Tumour
This meeting is held jointly with the upper gastrointestinal surgeons, radiologists and Endocrinologists to discuss the management of patients with hormone-producing bowel and adrenal tumours.

Endocrine Day Care Unit
This is a nurse led Clinical Investigations Unit. Senior nurses perform all the blood/urine testing required to fully evaluate complex hormonal problems. Facilities are available for collection and preparation of blood samples for complex analysis.

Other Helpful Information

Radioiodine Treatment of Overactive Thyroid
Both endocrine consultants hold a license to prescribe radioactive iodine treatment for overactive thyroid glands. This is administered by the hospitals Physics Department within one week of prescription

Minimally Invasive Neck Surgery
Mr Paul Wilson undertakes minimally invasive surgery for parathyroid adenomas and is developing this procedure for thyroid nodules.

Staff of the Endocrinology Department

Consultants - Professor RN Clayton, Dr FW Hanna

Nurse Specialists - Sister J Goodall, Staff Nurse R Thorley

Contact Information for the Department of Endocrinology

Appointments Line - 01782 555 444