Foreword

1998 marked the 25th anniversary of our Lupus clinic, the first of its kind in Europe, and also marked the opening of the new dedicated 'Louise Coote Lupus Unit' at St Thomas'.

In setting up a clinic specialising in lupus I have had three unwavering beliefs.

Firstly, lupus is too complicated a disease to be managed by a single doctor or specialist. Possibly above all other diseases, it needs the collaborate teamwork of groups including, eg Haematologists, Intensive Care specialists, Dermatologists, Nephrologists and Obstetricians.

Secondly, lupus is not as some doctors still believe, a rare disease, for at St Thomas' alone we see over 2,000 patients. The experience we gain from this practice is already being passed on to train Specialists, Nurses, GPs and visiting colleagues from around the world.

Thirdly, from the patient point of view, lupus is often a lonely and frightening disease. As is mentioned in this Guide, the patient often looks perfectly well. To get across some of the facts about lupus in a positive and understanding way to patients, to their relatives, and to their GPs is one of the major goals for a specialist Nurse.

Angie Barwick was the Sister/Specialist Nurse in the Lupus Clinic at St Thomas' and had run the nursing side since its inception as a master of these goals. I am delighted that she persuaded my colleagues and patients to get together to produce this Guide for Nurses.

Dr G R V Hughes MD FRCP
Head of Lupus Unit
St Thomas' Hospital, London