Hi all hope you are doing as well as can be 
I,m relocating back to UK after 42yrs, originally from Liverpool but realised I can move anywhere I choose! So where do you think gives the best care/trearment fo RA? I,d like somewhere with good & close transport,shops etc. Friendly people possibly by the sea, not too much rain haha if such a place exists 
I,m 69 so not a party place but not too quiet, dont want much do I lol so opinions/experience warmly considered thxs
Which area in England best for RA treatment/care? - NRAS
Which area in England best for RA treatment/care?
Written by
Chrt
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London has the best medical services and teaching hospitals - but doesn’t really fit your living criteria!
As someone who is under the care of a large London Hospital I consider my care pretty poor unfortunately. I have had to fight for everything and the relationship my medical team is not great. I am not the only one to say this about this hospital unfortunately I’ve found a few on here that are unhappy. They seem more focussed on the prestige of research, which is great but they forget the patient in that equation.
I was first treated by a London Hospital and my care was exceptional. Now moved, but hardest part of decision to move was to leave my rheumy she was that good.
It is a bit of a lottery, as I know other patients didm’t get on with her. We each have personal preferences.
Absolutely and what one persons deems excellent care another may not. Some people want strictly professional and others want a bit of banter and a good relationship. Like anywhere until you go you don’t know. I haven’t switched as better the devil you know and I have experience of navigating their system now.
I believe we are at the same hospital and completely agree, and came to the same conclusion re their research priorities. They are simply not patient-centred.
Indeed it is a shame as there is so much potential. I was invited to take part in a research study before even being given my RA/OA test results. When I queried this with the consultant she said “oh I thought the GP would have told you” Followed up by “clearly my secretary was being a bit over zealous”. No apology or recognition that it was wrong to be informed about a condition that way 🤷🏻♀️
Hi H/H yes london does tempt me for the social aspect & transport etc but not for anything else unfortunately!! lol I,ve visited quite a few times then had to go with hubby every 6wks to moorfields when he had macular disease. The pace of life was incredible, everybody was in such a mad dash hurry not for me at all & probably even less so now as I am so slow walking etc! Thx for info tho
south Essex used to be good but post pandemic no service at all from my experience. Told very short of staff all the time. Called their help line last year didnt get a rponse for 16 days and i was in flare couldnt walk as my knee was painful and swollen. when i eventually had a response i had no imaging to confirm but told it OA not RA. ive not had a problem since then. Dont listen to you just tell you. Then told i coukdnt have a knee replacement as too young at 63. i was not even asking for a knee replacement anyway just wanted something done about the pain.
Hi Matilda so sorry to hear that, must have been awful for you 
I,ve also been told they think I have oa along with ra (no doubt about ra too many tests confirmed it)but no suggestion of finding out for sure & no mention of what to do about the pain because of course thats first thing on our minds, well it is mine anyway!! Hope you get pain relief asap & things go better for you. Thxs for info good for me to know
For me Cambridgeshire has been good ie Cambridge/Kings Lynn etc.
Hi thxs Deeb I,ll have a look around that area
The Fens are lovely and you get Norfolk Suffolk Cambs and Lincs so if you get it right a great all round service I was in Long Sutton till the weekend as had to move and felt sad due to my healthcare being so good.
Hi Deeb1764, My daughter has RA, past 14 years now, lives in London but always talks about moving to Cambridge. Any recommendations on what part of Cambridgeshire is nice? Thanks
I lived in the FENS area which I loved my cousin loves St Ives area
Thanks very much
I am happy with my care from Warwick hospital . South warwicks nhs
Hi T/bob glad to hear it will take a google stroll round warwick area thxs
I’m also very happy with my rheumatology consultant at Warwick. I am pretty new to all this but their telephone helpline seems efficient, easy to get blood tests arranged etc. Nice area to live too.
I’ve heard Norfolk ( Norwich hosp ) is good. We’re looking at retiring there or thereabouts eg Manningtree. Am under a London trust and on paper it’s good but there’s always a downside.
Hi boys, hope the downside isn,t too major for you, myself as long as the pros outweigh the cons I,d be content with that. I,ll give the area a look around thxs
NNUH is great. Departmetnt run by Karl Gaffney who’s at the top of his game and currently Chair of the Biologics Committee in England. Welcome to Norfolk 🙌🙌🙌🌼🌼
I agree. The NNUH and Professor Gaffney are first class for R.A and similar conditions.
I saw him years ago when he diagnosed me with lupus and then again 6 years ago with RA. It was his decision to prescribe me with biologics as I was borderline. They changed my world. One of his colleagues, a rheumatology professor from London Bridge is a client of mine now as he’s a founder of an Osteoporosis foundation along with Karl Gaffney. They are doing amazing things and their goal is to eradicate osteoporosis.
Hi,could you share the name of the professor from london bridge so I can find out where he is now? many thanks
Sure - there's Prof Catto and Dr Taher Mahmud
thanks - thats great , I will look them up
I recently went on holiday in Norfolk and it was so lovely I've considered moving there myself. Plus when I've researched where rheumatology is good, Norfolk always scores highly. Plus it's very flat so kind to arthritic knees!
It's not as flat as you think it is, haha
we had a five day break in Norwich. I can tell you that there seem to be no flat roads in the city. One day we walked along the lovely river side (flat), but to find the river we walked down one hill, then down a flight of steps by the side of a church, then down another road. Eventually we couldn’t go down anymore and found the river! But a lovely city and area.
Another vote for Norfolk here. North Norfolk is beautiful but add an hour onto your journey if travelling out of Norfolk! I’ve had no problems with NNUH since transferring care here. Most scans etc I’ve been able to do Cromer Hospital then just the appointment in Norwich. Beautiful place to live, relaxing, calm, much slower pace of life 😍
Hi H/H been a few suggesting norfolk had a little google tour it does look gorgeous thxs
When I was first diagnosed, I was told I was lucky to be in Leeds as it had one of the best RA clinics in the country (based in Chapel Allerton hospital) after London.
Don't know if that's still the case, or if others have caught up, as that was back around 2007/8. I joined a clinical trial and spent a lot of time there having tests, scans etc. Though bone scans were usually done at the Wharfedale hospital in Otley.
However, I've only been back once in the last 3 or 4 years as the responsibility for monitoring seems to have been put back to GP surgeries. Shame as there used to be some great staff at Chapel A and it was a fun place to be. And the area itself is very cosmopolitan.
Anyway can recommend Yorkshire if you love the countryside, though it's a bit of a drive to the coast! Lots of rural areas within Leeds suburbs though. We have plenty of lakes, streams, woodland and moorland 😊
Hi W/D a 2nd shout out for leeds!! ok worth a good look then! Yes been thinking about yorkshire too. Been in the countryside for 25yrs approx I do love it but think I need to be nearer civilisation now now as possibly not able to drive over ther now as not used to driving right handed car Lakes streams are good just love water thxs
I was born here. Moved to London in the early 80s but moved back in 2000. It's changed a lot. I don't go in the city centre much but am quite familiar with north/north west Leeds. Feel free to msg if you'd like any info re areas to check out or anything. 😊
• in reply toChrt
Leeds is a city!! It's very green with countryside on your doorstep. Filey not too far away if you want to see the sea! North Leeds is the place to look for housing.
If you want the sea I would look at (Atlantic Coast) Cornwall, Pembrokeshire or the Inner Hebrides.
Hi I’m under Chapel Allerton. Just waiting for a nurse call at the minute. I’ve been there since about 2004 when I started Biologics under Proff Emery. At James’s previously. It certainly was very different back then when everyone knew you personally & had great relationship with the nurses. That said I still find the care good but there is a long wait now for appointments & no real continuity with Consultants as you see who’s available that day. I may have bumped into you there. Who knows 🤷🏻♀️ x
I met Prof Emery when I was first diagnosed and he persuaded me to go on the Empire trial they were doing - I apparently fit the bill perfectly. Was happy to do it tbh as, though I had to go there every 2 weeks, it meant I got a lot of testing and scanning. Lots of ultrasound which they never do now I'm back on the scrapheap 😀
Oh bless you. The ultrasound waiting list is ridiculous they really need more experts doing them. I waited a long time for guided steroid injection into my wrist a few years ago but it was worth it. Yes it is good to do trials etc as you say you get seen & other advantages too. Take care x
Do you not now see a consultant at a hospital? I’m from Leeds but live just outside the postcode but was offered Chapel A or my local hospital just down the road so chose that as all the rheumys were from Leeds/trained there anyhow. I used to go to RA patient meetings and events at CA but they stopped doing them some years ago.
Hi N/K i had my first consult 9th march & it was video conference very disappointing! My next appt won,t be till July sometime. It is one of my main reasons for relocating back but not the only one. So leeds is good ok I,ll have a look around thxs
I can’t vouch for Chapel Allerton/Leeds personally but many others I’ve known have given very good reports of going there over the years. I’m biased about Leeds as a place and the surrounding countryside! I lived in Leeds from being born to age 28. Now just outside the postcode, Hope you find a good place to live and sort your Rheumatology out. Presume the video call appointment was from where you’ve been living. Good luck.
hI N/K Im in Gibraltar, we dont have a resident rheumy, before covid he,d come to our hossy from uk approx every 3mths but now only does video consults held at the hospital because of backlog in uk so they tell us. It is too small to have full time consultants for every disease you see so less common ones we have visiting specialists from UK. I,m sure I,ll find somewhere, I,m looking forward to it, like an adventure, bit like a tourist after being away for so long lol. Thxs for info I,ll defo take a long look at leeds
Sorry, yes I do recall you saying re being in Gibraltar and how a rheumy only visited every so often so it was video calls for the time being. I hope you find a great rheumy here wherever you decide to settle and your RA is steady at the mo. 💗
Thxs N/K steadyish for now hope yours is not giving you griefeither
Glad to hear you’re ok. I’m doing ok RA wise thanks. Just a lot of other things to sort at the mo.
thxs thats the thing with this ra seem to get it then other things start happening its hard to keep on top of them all, never been to doctors/hospital so much in all my life now never seem to be away!! hope u get other things sorted asap n/k
Thank you. I’m taking some time away from here to sort a lot of medical phone calls and emails. On my way shortly to the dentist. Hope you are soon sorted too! 🙏🏻
no probs & thank you too for answering hope u get ontop of everything without too much stress & good luck with dentist
💗
I had an appointment at CA last year but it was the first one in 3 years. I only went as I was referred again after a long term conditions review with a GP. I don't actually know who it was I saw - she was dressed in blue scrubs so I assume a Doc.
I'm out of touch with who is who there now. I'm much more familiar with the goings on at Leeds eye clinics as they're my second home now! Recovering from surgery at the moment.
Hi it’s not actually my hospital at Chapel Allerton. Speedy recovery to you. 🙏🏻
I’m in Norwich. Fits every one of your criteria and Karl Gaffney rheumy at NNUH is one of the best in the country. It’s a beautiful city. Mediaeval with Two cathedrals, a castle and voted best place for independent shops in the UK. Close to the sea, almost on the Norfolk Broads and not too much rain.
If Norwich is a bit too big for what you’re looking for (it’s more like a town than a City), Aylsham which is ten miles away and closer to Cromer could be ideal for you. It’s a market town and voted one of the most desirable places to live in the country. Access is easy to Norwich and the coast and it has great services on the doorstep.
So Karl Gaffney is still working…. Saw him when I was first diagnosed 20+ years ago… lucky you !
He sure is! He’s also a founder of a foundation to eradicate osteoporosis. His understanding of rheumatology is second to none.
Its nice to hear someone is interested in trying to eradicate osteoporosis. I was diagnosed last year, came as a shock.
This is his website. There are quite alot of free resources on there you may be interested in. sticksandstones.org.uk/
Hi HKGal it sounds wonderful! have done a google stroll around there before but as its the care for ra thats important & now you & couple of other people say its great I,m lot more interested thank you
if you fancy a chat, message me. Moving anywhere is a big deal and it needs to be right for you 😊
Hi hkgal thank you very much will do in a while
I live in East Kent, and everything here ticks your boxes, except good rheumatologists. We have the Sea, good weather, lovely cafe culture for making new friends etc. However my local rheumatologists x3, spent 5yrs trying, not to hard, to diagnose me. I ended up being contacted by a rheumatologist connected to a charity asking me to get a referral to her, in Chapel Allerton in Leeds. I spent 18 months seeing them, the care was outstanding. I actually was diagnosed ankylosing spondylitis there, but had to be transferred back local for biologic funding. Otherwise I would still happily do the 250 mile trip 3-6 monthly. I also took part in a clinical study looking at the side effects from steroids and if they could predict who would get what. Part of that involved a whole body scan, which showed I had myopathy from the long term steroids I was on, as I also had polymyalgia at the time. Ironically my daughter now works in Leeds, and is keen for us to relocate. So hopefully in a few tears when hubby retires, I might be back under their care.
Hi Run1 oh dear thats not good is it! Poor you having to do all that travelling & the long wait for diagnosis what lousy care Kent was up there for me but not now with that kind of care! A few people have mentioned leeds being really good for ra care so thats got to be worth looking into more. Hope your ra care improves, thxs
my initial appointment in Leeds was on a snowy winter morning. I was the only person in clinic, and had the attention of both herself and an ophthalmologist who was running the clinic with her for 3hrs. I had symptoms of GCA that my local team dismissed as I was too young at 48, you have to be 50! She did a special ultrasound that shows in colour inflammation, which confirmed I had GCA. This was all as a result of me posting a picture of vascular lesions on my tongue, along with the typicial burning temples and severe jaw pain. I have no idea if the clinic had been set up for just me, or if everyone else cancelled because of the snow. Either way I was impressed at this service on the nhs, having struggled to make 20 mins with the local team. It is widely known that Kent do not have good rheumatologists, or specialists in general. I am also h set an endocrinologist and travel to London for that, and a respiratory specialist which i travel 50 mile to Medway, another area of Kent. I think that being not too far for commuting to London, most prefer work in the city. I hope you find somewhere where you can tick all your boxes 🤗
There seems to be a few of us at Chaple Allerton. I’ve been there for 20 years & it’s not like it used to be but still good. Just a lot more patients now so longer wait times I find x
I would return in a heartbeat if I could. The specialist I seen, was like meeting an old friend for coffee. She had great listening skills, and lots of empathy. Having worked with many consultants over my 34yrs nursing, the teams I encountered in Leeds were some of the best. She also referred me to a prof at the dental hospital, who used to liase with her, to ensure all my tests and clinic sessions occured during my visits to Leeds. He was also excellent. Fingers crossed one day in the future I return 🤞🤗
🤞for you. Sorry you had to go through that to get diagnosed. Good care is so important to us all. I actually live in York but after being dismissed as a time waster/ attention seeker by York’s 1 Rheumatologist 3 times over a 9 year period my GP asked me to go privately ( this was in 90’s) so I went to Leeds & was diagnosed at my first appointment with sero negative inflammatory arthritis ? RA ? Psoriatic They literally were my life savers. I got half an apology from that Consultant in York who thank god has long retired. X
Northumberland is a lovely place to live and a very friendly place. One definite bonus, cost of living is much lower than the south, including housing. Good luck with your move.
If you're considering coming closer to Liverpool, St Helens and Whiston rhumatology are excellent
Hi Michelle, thats good to know, been to whiston a few times when my mum was ill so I dont know Whiston area too well Both my sister & mum were under the royal, sister for ra & mum for polymalgia, Was a long time ago so dont know how good rheumy was. Thxs for info
I have heard great reports about Leeds too although never been under their care. They won a European award for best department at some point I believe. I lived in Leeds for 5 years prior to moving to London and have been looking to move back specifically to that area because of this. I’m originally from Yorkshire anyway so it will take me nearer to family with the hope of better care than I get at my current London hospital. You also can live a bit more rural Batley, Yeadon etc with Leeds not far away 😊
Hi Karen thxs for this, yes leeds seem to be top at the moment dont they so very careful considerations needs to be given to this area. Hope you get to move there asap
Plymouth rheumatology are fantastic 👏
Hi Jumbo thats good to hear I like Plymouth been there a few times for holidays
I'd suggest Swansea - it's by the sea and access to lots of lovely countryside. It's got a really forward looking, patient orientated rheumatology department. And honestly it doesn't rain all the time in Wales!
Hi O/timer you know I never thought about wales! Been to a few places, my brother lived in saundersfoot, visited tenby & round that area gorgeous place. Of course being close to l/pool been to n/wales rhyll, talacre, betsy coed etc all gorgeous too! Dont know too much about swansea but will look it up now thxs ps have to take your word for it doesnt rain all the time lol
Hi,
If you should choose Norfolk I would recommend you go to Norfolk & Norwich Hospital and not Kings Lynn. The N & N is a teaching hospital and quite easily reached by car and bu bus travel too. KL is falling down held up with loads of Acrow Props and the Doctors/Consultants keep leaving....I speak from experience. Happy hunting!!
Hi a/dancer thanks very much for that info!! do you get to choose which one you can go to?
Yes I think you can, as several friends have changed to N & N. I would like to but dubious that if I did I would lose my place in line for an urgent Respiratory consultation (so far waited 5 months) but with Covid all the hospitals have a long drawn out waiting list.
yes that covid causing long q,s everywhere it,s the reason our consultants only doing video consults dont have time to come over in person thxs for the info hope you dont have to wait too much longer for your respitory consult
Thank you and may your choice of where to live be a happy one for you.
thxs a/d I,m sure it will be
I cannot fault the care and kindness I have received from NHS in Essex. Not originally from here have lived here over thirty years! Also warmest place in the country less rain than the Sahara and thirty mins from sea good luck 🤞
hi green, haha less rain than the sahara made me laugh Ive thought of essex you know & knownot far from sea & warmer than rest of uk so its good to hear it has good nhs care thxs
I live outside of Cardiff, far enough away from the hussle& bussle but close enough if I want to visit, I live in Rhoose (next to Cardiff Airport though you'd never really know, its a pretty quiet airport 🤣) & can walk to the beach or get the bus or train into Barry & Barry Island or any of the other surrounding beaches, I can also take lovely walks into the countryside 😀 my consultant has clinics in Llandough & University hospital Cardiff, there are a few rheumatologists here. You don't have to speak Welsh either 😀
🤣😂 butlins was demolished years ago houses there now with cracking Seaviews 😀 my Welsh is very, very limited 🤣 x
Hi I'm formby my hospital is aintree a teaching hospital it as a good service nurses and doctor are good it's a big hospital formby ainsdale and birkdale are nice have nice villages vibe with good restaurants and bisto / cafe vibe birkdale village is ny fav its as a buzz about it fab restaurant all 3 are close to the beach's the closer you live to all 3 villages the better within walking distance to the train station but goodluck in buying they are snapped up straight away . If you want some estate agents let me know Goodluck and welcome back.
Hi vonnie I remember now going to formby & ainsdale when young lots of sand dunes & fun forgot about those places lol dont recall birkdale tho. Know about Aintree in fact it was because of their research papers on honey I read yrs ago that I knew about benefits of the dressings. I,ll have to take a look around but doubt very much I,ll buy again I,m going to rent.Had enough of the responsibility, bought my 1st house when I was 23 & except for couple of yrs when first moved to Gib have owned since then. A sort of plan is if I dont like it I can move to somewhere else in the uk! Bit mad, may not work out, who knows but if I dont do it I,ll never know! I know I need to be seen physically by a rheumy not video consults & I can,t take another summer heat coupled with sand polluted air. We have heatwave now in April, 30+ yesterday insane! Thxs for the welcome back & reminding me of formby/ainsdale etc
Stay where you are, nhs going down fast
Hi Flipper, maybe not what it used to be but better than a lot of other places around the globe I believe. Thxs I.m still coming back anyway
Hi Chrt, Sounds as though you're desperate to get back so I think you will settle anywhere in UK.
Wishing you all the very best
Hi Flipper, haha is that what I sound like just once I,ve made my mind up about something I want to get on with it. I,d decided more than a yr ago but thought best to have f/f with rheumy, waited & ended up finally getting video consult on 9/03 this yr nearly a 2yr wait, and being told f/f will be another very long wait. Also I was then put on mtx & need blood tests every 2 wks till end of May soo frustrating!! lol I do want to be back before summer kicks in tho but think its already started, having heatwave now that started last week, just crazy. Plan now to get back 1st week in June & yes you r right I will settle whever I go as its the right time for me to return. Thxs for the best wishes
I hope you find somewhere nice to live that will suit all your needs. I moved from west London to the south 7 years ago and the air is so much more healthy by the sea. I live in Bexhill on sea. We have Eastbourne and St. Leonard’s nearby , all good medical services and hospitals.
I used to be in West Sussex, and my care was great. I lived abroad, and when I returned, moved to Durham. Don't come here! It's a nightmare. I'm being treated if I can say that, in Newcastle. But with no car or anyone to drive me, I have to rely on buses and trains. It's very disheartening. Hope you've made a decision. All the best.
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