Changed hospitals?

[mms1966]

Just that really, as anyone asked to change hospitals?

I'm feeling let down by my Rhuemy, the only time she seems to have been interested in my case was when I was at deaths door. Now I'm functioning I am given short shrift at appointments and new symptoms ignored.

Can I ask to change?

[SaraF]

Hi,

I changed hospitals and consultants for my RA last year and it was the best thing i ever did. My treatment from diagnoses had been poor in the words of my new team! I visited the Dr Foster Medical website and researched the hospitals and consultants and then as my gp to refer me for a second opinion to my chosen person. I had an appointment with the rheumy and he discussed what he thought he could do for me, and what might be needed, and it was then my choice if i moved over them or not, i chose too, if you don't chose to move over you can stay with your current rheumy. Your current rheumy will not be told you have been for a second opinion .

Good Luck x

[sammiebabe70]

I have no choice but to change hospitals, Scarborough hospital were i go now has no Rheumys, i last saw mine back in Feb. The next nearest hospital is bout 20 miles away. My GP had to give me my steroid injection yesterday as i couldnt go to the hospital, its a joke and im totally fed up now x

[mms1966]

Thanks Sara, I was intending to ask the Rhuemy to move me on, will see how next appt goes on 19th and take it from there, maybe back to the GP.

Sammie, sorry to hear you have lost your local Rhuemy. Mine is close but pants, I live in London so there are others but awkward to get to, but if they are better I 'm willing to travel.

[Hidden]

Hi

sorry to hear about your issues- if you check out the 'hospital tab' above it may give you some more information regarding other experiences at different hospitals, if not, then ask your GP where he would suggest

Hope you get something sorted out

Katie

[micky40]

Hi

sorry you don't have a good rhuemy, that is my worry I already travel 40 miles to see mine but I don't mind as he is so good, but I am moving in a couple of weeks as I now need to be in a bungalow as me and my stairs keep having words and guess what the stairs are winning.

However this will mean more miles from the hospital, I don't know if I should change due to the traveling but I am happy with him it hard especially when you read that lots of people don't seem to get listen to or help from their RhuemY

Michelle

[Hidden]

I think it's worth traveling if you possibly can - good rheumies are worth their weight in gold. The price I pay for living in an island off Scotland is that I have absolutely no choice. Here we are lucky to see anyone! My choice to live here but I obviously didn't plan it around having RA. I'm lucky he's good and he sees me once a year when he visits - if I was in a terribly bad way I would be sent to see him in Aberdeen. But if he stopped coming and I didn't like his replacement then I'd move to a new location - even though I love my house, work and quality of life here. Tilda

[Hidden]

I moved hospitals and it was the best decision I made. I was diagnosed privately and then transferred to the rheumy's NHS clinic. It wasn't my local hospital and a nightmare to get to given that I didn't drive at the time. Also, as nice as he was, I didn't feel my first rheumy was treating me aggressively enough; he said he was worried about side effects as I was young. However, while he was contemplating more aggressive treatment, I got joint erosions! This place is so much better - at the previous one, they had 2 rheumatology consultants and no rheum nurses. I get proper multidisciplinary care at my current clinic - rheumatology nurses 4x a year, rheumatologist 4x a year and specialist rheumatology physio 6x a year. I'd probably see the consultant less but I haven't managed to find a medication that suits me yet. If you don't mind saying, where abouts in London are you? I'd highly recommend my hospital

[mms1966]

Pants! I wrote a big reply and it didn't post! I'm in North London and the hospital is local. I only seem to get good treatment if I'm hospitalised, once on the road two recovery I'm back at the bottom of the pile

[Hidden]

Are you anywhere near Barnet Hospital?

[mms1966]

It's about 8 miles away so not too far