Which specialty does what
Going to the wrong specialty costs a day and a fee and gets you a referral. Each entry here says what the specialty covers, who is usually sent there, and — the part nobody prints — what it does NOT cover.
Specialties overlap in ways that are invisible from outside. Breathlessness is shared between cardiology and respiratory medicine. Joint pain splits between rheumatology and orthopaedics along a line most people have never heard of. Kidney problems are two different specialties wearing one name.
Every entry here has a section called "what this specialty does NOT cover". That is the section that saves the wasted visit.
Medical specialties
General internal medicine
Adult medical problems in general, and holding the whole picture when several things overlap.…
Cardiology
The heart and blood vessels: rhythm, valves, heart muscle, coronary arteries, blood pressure t…
Respiratory medicine
Lungs and airways: chronic cough, breathlessness, asthma, chronic lung disease, sleep apnoea.…
Gastroenterology
Oesophagus, stomach, bowel, liver, biliary system, pancreas. Most digestive endoscopy is done …
Endocrinology
Hormones and metabolism: diabetes, thyroid, adrenal, pituitary, bone density, sex hormone diso…
Kidney and urology
Nephrology handles kidney function, dialysis, oedema and renal hypertension. Urology handles s…
Neurology
Brain, spinal cord and nerves: headache, seizures, stroke, numbness and weakness, tremor, memo…
Haematology
Blood and blood-forming organs: anaemia, clotting disorders, lymph nodes, blood cancers, trans…
Rheumatology
Joints, muscles, tendons and the autoimmune conditions affecting them: arthritis, back pain, m…
Allergy and immunology
Allergic reactions, recurrent urticaria, allergic asthma, anaphylaxis, and immune disorders.…
Infectious diseases
Difficult or prolonged infections, fever of unknown origin, illness brought back from travel, …
Oncology
Staging, planning and following cancer treatment with medicines, and coordinating the other sp…
Geriatrics
Older people’s health as a whole: several conditions at once, several medicines at once, falls…
Surgical specialties
General surgery
Surgery of the abdomen and abdominal wall: appendix, hernia, gallbladder, thyroid, breast, and…
Orthopaedics
Bones, joints, ligaments and the spine mechanically: fractures, ligament tears, joint replacem…
Neurosurgery
Surgery of the brain, spinal cord and spine: nerve root compression, tumours, intracranial ble…
Cardiothoracic surgery
Surgery of the heart, valves, aorta, lungs and mediastinum.…
Plastic and reconstructive surgery
Reconstruction after injury, burns or tumour removal; difficult wounds; congenital differences…
Other clinical specialties
Obstetrics and gynaecology
Pregnancy and birth, plus female reproductive health: periods, fibroids, endometriosis, menopa…
Paediatrics
Children’s health from birth to adolescence, including growth, development and vaccination.…
Ophthalmology
Vision, eye pressure, the retina, cataract, retinal disease, eye injury.…
Ear, nose and throat
Ears, nose, sinuses, throat, larynx and neck: hearing loss, tinnitus, inner-ear dizziness, hoa…
Dermatology
Skin, hair and nails: rashes, psoriasis, eczema, acne, hair loss, changing moles, skin cancer.…
Dentistry and maxillofacial
Teeth, gums, the jaw joint, and surgery of the jaw and face.…
Psychiatry
Mental health: depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, bipolar disorder, psychosis, substance de…
Rehabilitation medicine
Regaining movement and function after injury, surgery or stroke, or when a long-term condition…
Dietetics and nutrition
Eating in the context of illness: diabetes, kidney disease, digestive conditions, weight loss,…
Family medicine
Continuous care for a whole family across years and all ages, and keeping the thread between s…
Diagnostic and support
Radiology
Producing and reading images: X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI, and some image-guided procedures.…
Pathology
Examining tissue and cells under the microscope to establish what a lesion is. This is usually…
Anaesthetics
Anaesthesia, regional blocks, monitoring throughout an operation, and pain relief afterwards.…
Radiation oncology
Treatment with radiation: planning the treated area, delivering each session, and following th…
Urgent and supportive care
Emergency medicine
Immediate management of conditions that threaten life or move fast, then deciding whether to a…
Intensive care
Continuous monitoring and support of vital functions when one or more organs are failing.…
Palliative care
Symptom control and quality of life with serious illness: pain, breathlessness, nausea, fatigu…