Early assessment, diagnosis, and treatment are offered for individuals with axial spondyloarthritis. Patients can be referred to either Barnet Hospital or Edgware Community Hospital.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusions

The service is open for patients over the age of 16 who experience four out of five of the following criteria:

• back pain which starts during adolescence or early adulthood (45 years old or younger)
• back pain that is gradual on onset
• back pain which improves with exercise
• back pain which does not improve with rest
• back pain at night which improves on getting up.

The service does not ask for HLA-B27 or CRP blood tests or spinal/ sacroiliac joint x-rays or MRI scans.

How to Refer

The service accepts referrals from consultants and primary care clinicians including GPs, first contact practitioners and musculoskeletal triage services.