Practising at
Dr Helen Harris
Consultant Rheumatologist
BA, MB BCh BAO, ECFMG, MRCPI,MD
Specialises in
I graduated from Trinity College, Dublin in 1989 and undertook medical training in Ireland before being accepted as a Fellow at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, USA. I was mentored by Prof Joan Bathon, and was awarded the Sir John Banks medal for research and conferred with a MD in 2000. I undertook clinical training in SLE with Prof Michelle Petrie and in Scleroderma with Prof F. Wigley during my three year Fellowship.
I then worked as a Clinical Lecturer in Rheumatology in Edinburgh for four years before being appointed as a Consultant Rheumatologist for NHS Fife in 2001. I use internationally agreed diagnostic criteria and treatment pathways to manage all rheumatology conditions.
I am the Chairperson of Scottish Lupus Exchange and am the treasurer and a tutor of the Scottish Rheumatology Ultrasound Group.
Treatment information
Some of the principal treatments carried out by Dr Helen Harris at Spire include:
Rheumatology
- Joint pain treatment (joint injections)
Other treatments
- Rheumatology
- Ultrasound guided corticosteroid joint injections
- Ultrasound guided hyaluronic acid joint injections
- Hyaluronic acid joint injections without ultrasound guidance (knee only)
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Additional information
Clinical interests
Connective tissue disease
Inflammatory rheumatic disorders
Lumbar spine disorders
Osteoarthritis
Osteoporosis
Pain management
Rheumatology
Rheumatoid arthritis
Soft tissue rheumatism
Special Clinical Interests: Early Inflammatory Arthritis Clinics using Ultrasound to assess the joints; Ultrasound guided injections are used to treat both inflammatory arthritis (corticosteroid) and Osteoarthritis (Hyaluronate); Clinics for patients with SLE, Sjogren’s Syndrome, Myositis, Scleroderma, Antiphospholipid Syndrome and other autoimmune conditions. I also have an interest in diagnosing and managing patients with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, Hypermobility Syndrome and Osteoporosis. I am expert in the diagnosis and management of Gout. I see patients from 16 years old upwards. All patients are offered a copy of their clinic letter that will be sent to the GP. The letter summarises diagnosis, further investigations, treatment and care pathway.
Qualification and professional memberships
Professional memberships
Member of the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland
Member of the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh
Member of the Scottish Society of Rheumatology
Member of the British Society of Rheumatology
Research and publications
I have presented my work on the use of vaccinations to reduce the incidence of infection in Rheumatology patients at the British Society of Rheumatology meeting in Manchester 2015.
I have taken a lead on raising awareness of the role of tobacco smoking in causing Rheumatoid Arthritis and other conditions and presented my work at the European League Against Rheumatism meeting in Madrid in 2013.
I have developed www.capri.scot.nhs.uk, the first website for patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis to score their own disease activity and is the Rheumatology lead for NHS IT innovation.
I lead on the development of an online cohort of Scottish patients with SLE and has undertaken research on Gout and Sjogren’s Syndrome in NHS Fife.
I regularly presents her work at the biannual meetings of the Scottish Society of Rheumatology.
Current NHS posts
Consultant Rheumatologist NHS Fife
Honorary Senior Lecturer St Andrew's University
Personal profile
I enjoy playing the piano, yoga, learning Italian and reading in my spare time.
Contact information
| Telephone | 0131 334 0363 |