RA

[Whitegate]

My consultant has retired after monitoring every 6 months. I THINK that I'm still in remission on 15 mg MTX weekly and that my aches and pains are just old age. Can I rely on my GP to monitor the RA now, please? or should I find a new consultant?

[bpeal1]

When my consultant retired I was automatically transferred to another consultant in the same department. I assume the same will happen to you if you’ve been seeing an NHS consultant.

[KittyJ]

Same here as bpeal I was given a new consultant.

[nomoreheels]

You should be allocated a new Consultant, I have been on 3 occasions. You shouldn't be discharged, you still have RD even if it's well controlled & as you know your GP isn’t a specialist. That said my OA was generally managed by my previous (now retired) GP. My experience of UK Rheumies is they take less interest in it, if that's what you mean by aches & pains are old age. I'm contradicting myself somewhat, the Rheumy I saw before the last one arranged for X-rays of the OA in my hands & also took the opportunity to X-ray my feet too, which is RD, to note if there were any changes from my previous one back in 2013, but it was a locum I saw last, he was disinterested.

[AgedCrone]

Why don’t you either telephone your previous rheumatologist’s team at the hospital & ask which rheumatologist you have been assigned to……..They may have assigned you to your previous doctor’s replacement…or to another member of the rheumy team, or if you prefer…ask your GP to arrange it for you….reminding whichever you choose when your next check up is due.GP’s are not able to oversee RA without the advice of a rheumatology consultant…they carry out the consultant’s instructions…re prescriptions etc.

Good luck…..I hope you find you’ve got a great new rheumy!

[Whitegate in reply to AgedCrone]

I didn't know that, AC. Thank you.

[Mmrr]

You should be automatically transferred to new rheumatologist, a GP does not have the necessary knowledge to monitor RA.

[Runrig01]

You will be transferred to either a new consultant if they’ve managed to replace him, or one of the other consultants. You need to be under rheumatology to stay on methotrexate. They can only prescribe MTX as part of a shared care agreement, as it needs close monitoring.

[Whitegate in reply to Runrig01]

I didn't know that, thanks Maureen

[Sheila_G]

I would say that your GP can't monitor your condition. He/she is not a Rheumatologist and won't have the necessary knowledge. You should automatically be assigned another Rheumatologist. They can't just leave you high and dry with this condition. Goid luck

[oldtimer]

Your GP can only continue prescribing methotrexate under a shared care agreement with the rheumatology department. They will not want to be responsible for all your care, although they can continue to prescribe under the shared care agreement if your blood tests are OK and the rheumatologist is supervising. You would normally be transferred to the replacement Rheumatologist, but there may a delay as there is a national shortage of them (as well as all other health practitioners). You may receive a contact from the hospital asking if you want to continue to be reviewed by the hospital and you should reply yes, or your treatment controlling your disease will stop.

[Whitegate in reply to oldtimer]

Thanks OT

[LauraJM]

Who monitors your blood test results? I would think that would be a major consideration. My Rheumatologist monitors mine rather than my GP. Also do you not have reviews with your Rheumatologist at least annually? I think I would be a bit concerned if I was not under a Rheumatologist as GP will not have specialist knowledge. Hope you get a satisfactory solution.

[Whitegate in reply to LauraJM]

Thanks, Laura