Moving house

[Clarky61012]

Hello all, I'm after some advice here please. Was diagnosed about 15 months ago with RA, now on the usual MTRX, Sulpha, Hydroxy. I see my rheumy every 12 weeks and the usual blood tests. I've recently moved house, and am now about 3 hours away from that hospital. My new GP said that if they refer me to a local hospital's rheumy I would go to the back of the waiting list again. They recommended getting my current one to 'transfer' me. Just spoken to the rheumy admin who said they don't do this and I will indeed need to get the new GP to refer me and wait for however long it takes for a new appointment (new GP said about 6 months!)

Anyone got any experience of moving areas/hospitals?

[Diamondpainting]

Hi Clarky. This is one of the reasons that we have decided not to move The NHS are so disorganised when it comes to transferring records etc. As Rena said take it to PALS if you don't get anywhere with a speedy transfer to you local hospital. Good luck!

[Thingybob]

Hi, we moved in april 20 at the start of the first lockdown. The referral to a new hospital does need to come from your new gp as they have access to your complete records. However you can go on line to find which hospital rheumy dept has the shortest waiting list , the doctors names and backgrounds etc.

Plus you can stay registered for treatment with your current rheumatology dpt until things are sorted.

When i phoned my new dept they told me that existing registered patients dont goto the bottom of the list but are prioritised on need , stage etc. I had my first face to face at the new hospital 4 months after referral but had 2 telephone condultations with my previous one between moving and then ( if that makes sense !?!)

All the best 🙂

[Hidden]

Morning. I moved away from Manchester 6 years ago but kept my Rheumatology team as I love my Advanced Practitioner. She has been with me since 2010. I had to give up my Physiotherapist (another RA Advanced Practitioner) as she was at a different hospital which I had self-referred to. I am down to 6 month appointments now (well was before Covid), and as I used to live in Manchester I treat it as a day out.

Sometimes I come straight home as I do find hospital outpatients emotionally draining (I am confronted by the fact that I am ill), but other times I will meet a friend for a meal/ a drink/ wander round town.

With things as they are atm it may be worth staying with who you have for the moment. The only ‘issue’ is that blood tests aren’t linked as it’s a different system, and if you have injections you would have to do some wrangling re: prescriptions.

It does take me less than 2 hours to get there though, which may be another factor for you. I have accessed a MSK Physio where I live now through my GP. I think the Consultant recommended it and the GP gets copies of all hospital letters sent to them.

[Plumcrumble]

Yes I'm afraid that's what happens, I had the same thing when I moved 11yrs ago to a different part of the country, before that when I moved is was only a few minutes difference. Mine didn't take too long but that was before covid, hope you don't have to wait too long, but it is important for you to continue with bloodtesting 👍

[grumpygirl]

Hi

I actually stayed with my Rhuemy when I moved as they were so good and the area I am now in wasn't brilliant. If you decide to do this you will need to ask your current Rhuemy to contact your new gp with a shared care plan. This will mean that your GP will organise your bloods every month and report back if there's a problem. It also means that you might have to do a bit of co ordinating if you need extra bloods etc but I find it worth it for my continuity of treatment