RA services in Northern Ireland

[scotbob]

Myself and my better half are moving to Northern Ireland in the next 3months, I am trying to get a handle on what services for RA is like in Tyrone area, i am currently on Amgevita (adalimumab) injections, and are working for me. We had a chat with my current doctor who couldn't give much information, but would help in anyway she could.

It appears that different Health Areas have different polices on which biological that they use but sure if that is true.

Any info would be helpful

thanks

Robert

[helixhelix]

I would give the NRAS help desk a call. Northern Ireland has a very bad reputation, but perhaps this has improved!

This report is a few years old, but paints a depressing picture. Fewest number of rheumatologists per person in whole of UK, and appointment waiting times over 18 weeks

rheumatology.org.uk/Portals...

[scotbob in reply to helixhelix]

Thank you for getting this info, a quick read it doesn't look good, but I am thinking about getting in touch with the hospital in Tyrone and just find out what the state of play is.

[mads1]

Hello Robert, welcome to Northern Ireland. I am from county down and am under the care of a consultant and am currently on humira (biolgoic). Can you get your consultant in England to help with this, he/she may be more influential than the GP. What part of Tyrone will you be in? The waiting list is dire here but once you are in the system, the care is good and probably the same as what you are used to. It would be very unfair that you would have to start again on a waiting list just because you are moving to a different part of the UK.

[Eden1]

Hi I am from Co.Tyrone and under the care of a consultant in Belfast and currently taking Methotrexate and Hydroxychlorquine. I initially went private to get a rheumatologist appointment (very long waiting lists) but once diagnosed I then went under the care of the same consultant via NHS and with shared GP care in terms of regular blood tests and prescribing the medication on rheumatologist advice. Rheumatologist (who is very good) is based in Belfast and works from a couple of Belfast hospitals as well as his private clinic but there are others who are based outside Belfast. In practice I tend to mostly see the rheumatology nurse now for check ups but if any issues then the rheumatologist is available. I also have a phone no for nurse if any concerns. If you are currently being treated under NHS and seeing a rheumatologist can they not transfer you without having to start afresh?

[scotbob in reply to Eden1]

Thanks , I have heard before that going private for consultation then transfer to NHS system, not sure I could afford the injections privately .

[Robin0]

When I moved to Co Down I registered with a GP and provided all my correspondence from my Rheumatologist in England. I was referred to a Rheumatologist and was seen within 3 months. I was able to get my medication and blood tests from my GP within a month of moving. I didn’t have to go on a long waiting list. I am very happy with the care I receive here.

[scotbob in reply to Robin0]

thanks for the info

[helenlw7]

Good luck with your move to Northern Ireland, it’s a beautiful country.

About 8 years ago I was thinking about a move to the north of England. I spoke to my RA consultant and he was very helpful. He did say that some health authorities make you start again with the diagnosis process, which sounds ridiculous, but he also said that if I told him the name of the nearest hospital with a rheumatology department, he would write to the consultant with my medical history and the medications that had and hadn’t worked. In the end we didn’t move for various reasons.

[Hidden]

Moving your rheumatology care is rarely straight forward even moving within one's own country but certainly moving to a different nation does make transfer of care more difficult. We at NRAS are aware of very short comings within the health service in N.Ireland and continue to try, along with other interested parties to raise the issue. Much of this has been hampered due to the N.Ireland Assembly being suspended since Feb 2022. I wish we could give you some reassurances that your move to the province will be a smooth one in relation to your ongoing rheumatology care but this may not be the case. I would suggest that you begin as soon as possible by speaking with your current rheumatologist in Scotland to get a referral to a N.Ireland colleague. Good luck and do keep NRAS informed of how things go as your situation may be useful in our ongoing campaigning work in N.Ireland. You may email me directly at [e-mail]

[scotbob in reply to Hidden]

eClar

[weathervane]

Hi scotbob , good luck with your move to the beautiful North! I also had an initial private appointment and was then referred to the same consultant on the NHS . I get rituximab infusions at Musgrave Park and i have some outpatient appointments at the City hospital. The care I’ve received has been excellent but i do understand that initial assessments can be a long wait . I would hope that as your under rheumatology and currently being treated that you might get in the system quicker.

Best wishes 🤗🤗

[scotbob in reply to weathervane]

Thanks for replying fingers crossed all goes well

[wilbertjellyfish]

I live near Strabane...I get my regular bloods done by the nurse at my GP practice. My consultant is based at altnagelvin (co Derry). I order my biologic from hospital and it gets delivered to the GP practice....this system works well for me. There is a phone number for the rheumy nurses and they are good at getting back to you.

I did have to go private for my initial diagnosis but then (with a bit of pushing) got into the NHS system and things have been ok since.

My disease isn't that well controlled but I don't think that's to do with my NHS care.

Good luck with the move.

[scotbob in reply to wilbertjellyfish]

thanks for the info , its funny as Strabane is roughly the area we are moving to , my better half is from Sion. Do you use the Medical centre in Strabane, and is it any good? Thanks again.

rRobet

[wilbertjellyfish in reply to scotbob]

I'm registered in mourneside medical center. When I moved here they had a system of taking it in turns to register new patients be between the surgeries in the medical center and mourneside. I find them good.

[TheBoys]

hi

I was looking at this and rang Altnagelvin in Derry they advised that my London based rheumatologist should do an internal e referral to them and I would xfer over no problem.

However the multidisciplinary approach of my Trust in London prevents me as see a cardiologist and respiratory specialist every 6 months along with a senior rheumatologist. I would never get that in Derry - so not moving.

Good luck!