IOM rheumy dept

[Ali_H]

Hi,

We are considering relocating to the IOM in the next few years and I am wondering is anyone is on the island and can say what the rheumy dept is like re efficiency and ongoing management of RA.

Thanks

Ali

[helixhelix]

Contact the local NRAS group on the Isle of Wight and ask them?

iwrias.org.uk

[Ali_H in reply to helixhelix]

Hi Helix,Thanks for that.... it’s Isle of Man but I can transfer the idea to look for a local group there 😎

Thanks again

Ali

[AgedCrone in reply to Ali_H]

Google iom.org/Rheumatology

[helixhelix in reply to Ali_H]

Duh! 🤭

[Hidden]

My dad has lived there for much of the last 30 years, and although I haven’t had rheum input myself, I do know that the consultant in charge of rheumatology at Noble’s (the island’s hospital) has done a lot to restructure the service. Because the island only has a population of 90k-ish, some treatment and services across all specialties, particularly in more complex cases, have to travel to the mainland for input (usually Manchester or Liverpool), and that was the case for rheum patients up until the last couple of years. Thankfully, the rheum service runs more locally now including an infusion service for biologics, but they maintain a very strong link with the Mersey Deanery including quarterly visits from a professor there to ensure patients are receiving the best care and the staff continue their professional development. Complex cases are still jointly managed as appropriate, but covid means more is being done via zoom, which is better for a lot of people.

I have spent time in Noble’s as a patient a few years back, and the care was very good, as were the services, but it’s worth bearing in mind that records and the like don’t transfer the way that they would moving between U.K. nations. Also, many support services are entirely local rather than being affiliated with large charities like the NRAS. The Manx version is called Arthritis Care Ellan Vannin and they have a page on Facebook.

[Lulu1932]

When I first went to my consultant appointment at Wrightington near Wigan, I got chatting to a very nice lady in the waiting room. She told me she was from the IOM and apparently her health centre flies their rheumy patients in to Wrightington as it’s a specialist hospital.😊