Dr Zoe McLaren

I am a Consultant Rheumatologist with a particular interest in systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjogren’s disease. My overall approach is thorough and holistic. I have an interest in lifestyle medicine and how factors such as diet and exercise can impact medical diseases, mental health and wellbeing. I have also published on how the menopause and perimenopause can impact the musculoskeletal system in women and how this is often under recognised and mislabelled.

I am pleased to offer a range of consultation options including telephone consultation, video consultation and face to face assessment depending on what suits the individual patient.

I started training in Rheumatology in Merseyside in 2003 as part of my general medical training. I then completed my specialist training in rheumatology as part of the Mersey rotation between 2005 and 2012. During this time I completed a prestigious Arthritis Research UK fellowship researching childhood SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus) in the Institute of Child Health in The Royal Liverpool Children’s’ Hospital.

I was appointed as a consultant rheumatologist in the Wrexham Maelor Hospital, North Wales in January 2012 where I worked as a general rheumatologist until November 2019. During the same period, I offered private rheumatology care in Spire Yale Wrexham.

After completing my tenure as The Welsh Devolved Nation Chair to the British Society of Rheumatology, I took my current post in Liverpool where my specific task has been to consolidate specialised services for SLE and Sjogren’s syndrome in the newly merged Trust.

I was also recently appointed to the position of Trust Audit lead, and I am Chair of the British Society of Rheumatology Clinical Affairs committee as well as serving on the Royal College of Physicians Patient Safety Council.

I currently work as a consultant rheumatologist in the newly merged Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Trust across three major hospitals – Broadgreen, Aintree and the Royal Liverpool. In my NHS practise I treat the full range of rheumatological conditions, and I have particular expertise in diagnosing and managing systemic lupus erythematosus, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and adults with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Like most rheumatologists I am especially interested in early diagnosis of inflammatory conditions to prevent damage to joints and maintain health.