Moving to a new area

[JEM95]

Hi,

I’m hoping to move from Oxfordshire up to North Norfolk in the next six months - its time to start the next phase of my life, and I want to be near the coast 😀. I’m slightly concerned about moving away from my Rheumy team - I’m currently with the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Oxford and they are brilliant.

My main concern is I’ve not long started Benepali - does anyone know whether I would be automatically eligible for biologics if I move to another area?

Any advice or recommendations either about Rheumy services in N Norfolk or how to find a good GP clinic would be much appreciated.

Thank you x

[Kerensa21]

Hi I asked this when considering move last year as was worried you’d have to be reassessed for biologics. Rheumatology said no, prescription would just go with you but most important thing was finding local GP first, believe you can register before move. I know nothing about Norfolk, sorry but the coast sounds lovely 😊

[JEM95 in reply to Kerensa21]

Thank you for your reply - that sounds hopeful. Having waited nearly 7 years to get a biologic I would hate to lose access to it.

I’ve decided to retire and move to the coast to spend lots of time walking and exploring! Yippeee !

[Kerensa21 in reply to JEM95]

Know what you mean, I worried too, sounds wonderful, enjoy your retirement 😊x

[JEM95 in reply to Kerensa21]

Thank you! I’ve worked for 41 years - it’s ‘me’ time now 😀x

[HappykindaGal]

I’m in Norfolk. Welcome to this beautiful county. You won’t regret moving here. I’m always grateful that I live in such a wonderful place.

Rheumy at NNUH is great. Karl Gaffney is a very nice man. It’s a large department with some great specialist nurses. Their helpline is responsive-they reply within a day and get you seen within a couple of days if needed.

I take benepali. It’s delivered and never had any issues.

Welcome to the land of the Big Skies

[JEM95 in reply to HappykindaGal]

Yay! Just what I wanted to hear, thank you so much for taking the time to reply, it’s much appreciated. Great news.

I’m hoping to put my house on the market in the next few weeks then I’m off (hopefully, and hoping we don’t have another lockdown too soon).

My father came from N Norfolk, so I have always known I want to live there x

[HappykindaGal in reply to JEM95]

And the even better news. Norfolk has one of the lowest infection rates at 0.3 Nothing in our hospitals now

[happytulip]

North Norfolk is stunning. Norfolk, Ipswich and Cambridge are all good for Rheumatology services to my knowledge.

You won't regret moving there.

[JEM95 in reply to happytulip]

Super! Thank you for replying. I can’t wait to start my retirement in a place I love x

[Bakinglover]

Yes Norfolk is a great county to live in. Wonderful coastline and a more laid back pace of life. I've found the NNUH to be really wonderful, with great staff and yes the advice line is so helpful. Hope you soon settle here. X

[JEM95 in reply to Bakinglover]

Fabulous! Thank you. It is so reassuring to hear feedback from people.

Norfolk here I come! x

[Sorren]

Hiya. I dont often join in with the responses but read this site every day for the last couple of years and very grateful to everyone for all their advice. But yes we took the plunge to leave where we currently live and hopefully moving to South Norfolk in a couple of weeks. I have been worried about ongoing treatment for my RA and other related conditions but thanks to those who use the NNUH I am feeling more confident. Have a GP lined up just hope they are taking patients! So good luck with your intended move to North Norfolk.

[JEM95 in reply to Sorren]

Hi, that’s excellent news. I’m glad you are feeling more confident - I am pleased to bits to have feedback on the NNUH Rheumy team. It’s such a worry. I’ve been with the NOC in Oxford since diagnosis so was a bit concerned about changing.

Thanks to the wonderful peeps on here I am even more excited about moving now.

I hope your move goes well, take care x

[Bessieboo1]

I moved from Norwich to North Yorkshire last October. I was a patient at the the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital for 9 years. The rheumatology dept is really good and supportive, the biologic nurses are excellent and all the Consultants are lovely. They do quite a lot of research in the department as well. If you need splints for hands then the rheumatology OT is fantastic. I had my biologic meds delivered by Healthcare at Home and they never let me down. Very disappointed with my new rheumatology team, I feel very alone and unsupported so hard when I came from such a proactive team. Best of luck with your move.