Was wondering if anyone had changed hospitals and consultants? There is no easy way to get to my hospital unless I drive.

[Susanbet]

Although its only every three months for consultant and every month for bloods you can guarantee that's the time my hands are painful and difficult to drive. It's not always possible to have someone to drive me. There is a local hospital accessible by bus. When I was first diagnosed 3 years ago this hospital had a long appt time so was not sent there. Would this be difficult to do? Any feedback would be helpful. Thanks.

[Hidden]

So much depends on where you live Susan. Have you tried discussing it with the Consultant you are already under?

[Susanbet in reply to Hidden]

I have appt next week with him and was wondering if anyone had done this. Thanks for your reply. x

[allanah]

Yes. Changed as I originally saw a consultant where I worked but after I got laid off I changed to one nearer home, luckily they are so much better. I think my GP wrote to the new hospital and once I saw the consultant they transferred my notes. I continued to have my meds etc at the old hospital until I saw new doc.it went very smoothly.

[Hidden]

Hello

It depends on the area you live in, here the doctors move around the county as do the RA nurses.

All I can say is have a word next time with RA Nurse, or your GP

BOB

[Pands]

Can have your bloods done at your GP surgery instead of having to go to the hospital?

I know when I was ill for a couple of months that my GP surgery added me to the list for the nurses to come and take my blood at home as they understood I couldn't get in to the surgery. (I was at home all day so didn't matter what time in the morning they arrived!)

[Susanbet in reply to Pands]

The hospital I attend is in a different health authority to the one I live and where my GP is. Therefore the surgery wont do the blood tests. Tried it once and my results are still somewhere in cyberspace! Would be easier if they could.

[Pands in reply to Susanbet]

So much for the joined up NHS. What a pain (literally) for you. Yes in which case can you see what your Consultant can suggest next week.

[Dotty7]

See if you can find out anything about the quality of the consultant and the support at the new hospital before you switch, especially if you are happy with the current service. I used to see a consultant at a clinic ten minutes up the road, but am now happy driving to a hospital which is 40 minutes away because the care is so much better. BUT I am in a position where I can drive myself there, and I appreciate that makes it much more convenient - it would be very hard to do by public transport.

Good luck,

Dotty x

[helixhelix]

Under the NHS constitution you are supposed to have a choice about where you go, so are entitled to ask to move, and it should be a simple process (!). However, as Dotty says it would be worth checking out the nearer hospital first to be sure you want to change. It's also much more likely to be successful if you are specific about who you want to be referred to. Oh, and make sure you have good supplies of drug etc before you move just in case things take longer than anticipated. If you've been prescribed by GP for 3 +years then unlikely to have a problem but in theory they can only prescribe MTX on instructions from a hospital consultant.

[Susanbet in reply to helixhelix]

Many thanks for all your feedback. I will look into the hospital that is nearer to me and see if it possible to change.

[vickeynursey]

Hello there

I was diagnosed in Watford, however it became too much hassle for me as I had to drive for 30 min each way and walk miles from car park.

I have transferred quite easily to local hospital and it's been much better move.

Good luck but don't hesitate to move if you need to. I knew someone who was already at the new hospital who gave it good high marks so I guess that helped my decision.

X