Please note that Dr Estella Yeo has moved to Pinnacle Sports Physicians at 2/9 Humphreys Drive, Ferrymead. Her new admin team can be contacted at 03 347 7032.
Rheumatology Associates

Specialists in autoimmune, inflammatory and other rheumatic diseases

Where to find usReferrals
A doctor examining a patient's hand

Call a clinic

Referrals

Due to high referral volumes and limited capacity, our practice is currently not accepting semi-routine or routine referrals, and is also unable to provide second opinions. Priority will be given to Canterbury and West Coast patients.

How referrals are triaged

What we do

Rheumatology care in Christchurch

Rheumatology Associates is the longest-serving private adult rheumatology practice in Christchurch. We are two rheumatologists working together across two locations: Dr Rafi Raja at Sports Doctors in Moorhouse, and Dr Estella Yeo at Pinnacle Sports Physicians in Ferrymead.

We are here to assist with the diagnosis, management and ongoing care of rheumatological conditions, which are often chronic and can have significant impact on daily activities and work. We liaise with your GP and also with other specialists when required to provide optimal care.

Who we are

Autoimmune inflammatory disorders

We consult on all autoimmune inflammatory disorders, including but not exclusive to the following: rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, polymyalgia rheumatica, vasculitis and myositis.

Autoimmune connective tissue disorders

The most common types of connective tissue disorders we come across include systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren’s syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease and scleroderma.

Crystal arthritis

These are a group of inflammatory conditions caused by excessive crystals formation in joints and soft tissues, e.g. gout and pseudogout (calcium pyrophosphate disease).

Who we are

Meet the team

  • Dr Estella Yeo

    Dr Estella Yeo

    MBChB (NZ), FRACP (NZ)

    Dr Estella Yeo graduated with an MBChB from the University of Otago in 2011 and completed her training in Rheumatology and Internal Medicine at Christchurch Hospital in 2020. She is interested and consults in all areas of rheumatological practice. She strives to provide the best personalised care for each of her patients. Born in Singapore, Estella is now a proud Kiwi who calls Christchurch and New Zealand home - alongside her husband, Steve, and lovely daughter, Sophie.

  • Dr Rafi Raja

    Dr Rafi Raja

    MBChB (NZ), FRACP (NZ), Clinical Research Fellowship (UK)

    Dr Rafi Raja studied medicine at the University of Auckland and graduated in 2002. He trained as a rheumatologist in New Zealand, completing his training in Christchurch in 2011, before pursuing a Clinical Research Fellowship in the UK in the area of osteoarthritis. He worked as a rheumatology consultant at Christchurch Hospital between 2014 and 2021, and also held the position of Senior Clinical Lecturer with the University of Otago during that time.

    With a busy household of five school aged children, Rafi and his wife, Belinda, are happily settled in North Canterbury.

Referrals

Referral

A referral from your GP or specialist will be required.

Referrals will be triaged into:

  • Urgent

    These patients will be seen within 3 weeks due to organ threatening conditions, such as vasculitis or giant cell arteritis.

  • Semi-urgent

    These patients have high likelihood of or confirmed inflammatory conditions where early treatment is likely to provide long-term benefits.

  • Semi-routine

    These patients have low likelihood of inflammatory rheumatic conditions.

  • Routine

    These patients have non-inflammatory musculoskeletal conditions.

Electronic referrals · EDI averheum

Fees

For new, re-referral and follow-up patients, please contact reception for up-to-date fees.

  • Insurance pre-approvals for Southern Cross Health Society members can be arranged.
  • We are not ACC-affiliated.

For repeat prescriptions outside an appointment, a fee of $35 per prescription will apply.

  • Please contact reception or your rheumatologist directly. The script will be sent directly to your pharmacy.

Contacts

Where to find us