Private GCA consultation recommendations

[Diver249]

Hi. I’m looking for recommendations for a private consultation with a rheumatologist. Someone who has expertise inn GCA .. I live in north west Cumbria and can’t find one online locally.,I’m willing to travel quite long way to access expertise in GCA, so Southern Scotland, Edinburgh, Glasgow, the North East, North West as far as Liverpool and Manchester and Cheshire are all feasible for me. In fact Liverpool and Manchester areas would be ideal because i have family there, but I’m most interested in expertise wherever it is found.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

As I did mention in other thread our go-to expert is Prof Rod Hughes buts he works out of Chertsey - so not sure if any use -but info attached anyway -

finder.bupa.co.uk/Consultan...

topdoctors.co.uk/doctor/rod...

others will be along in morning UK time,

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Mike Plant in Middlesborough,  cycli got on very well with him on NHS (I think) after a disastrous first NHS rheumy. Unfortunately the best GCA people in the north don't do private work. It may have improved but the Manchester area was a bit of a desert in the past!!

finder.bupa.co.uk/Consultan...

He was heavily involved with the PMRGCANE charity when it was still extant.

[Diver249 in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, just down the M6 is relative. I’m a hour away from the M6, then it’s 2 or more hours to Liverpool on a busy day, then often it’s just a traffic jam. I used to work in north London sometimes when I lived in Liverpool and I d leave work at 5pm and often not be home until 11 or 12 that evening. There are a lot of rheumatologists on the Spire Healthcare website all round the country, including Liverpool, Manchester, Cheshire, Wirral. It’s just knowing who to pick hence request for recommendations. In fact I’m nearer to Glasgow (and Edinburgh) in driving time and by train than to Liverpool or Manchester, so I’ll have a look at your suggestion there. I can see Scotland over the Solway Firth from my house.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Diver249]

That's why I mentioned him! The M6 comment was a bit tongue in cheek though to be honest - I would do it to see Rod in the absence of anyone else. I don't have any active connections in Gateshead and the names have changed. I just know someone recommended Bawa not that long ago,

[Diver249 in reply to PMRpro]

Dr Plant does private work on Teeside. Only one and a half hours per week. Not listed as having interests in vasculitis, but other conditions.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Diver249]

Ah, but he does because he did loads with the charity originally and as I say, cycli saw him with a rather complicated GCA.

[Viveka]

Rod Hughes in Chertsey usually wants to see people for first appointment but after that by phone. He has waived this at least once i think. Brilliant for advice and person-centred - if you need tests not feasible unless they are things that can be ordered through GP.

[AmberGamble]

Hello,

I saw Prof Ben Parker at the Spire, Manchester. He was excellent. I had tried to find someone who even mentioned GCA in my area so I’m guessing there’s not that many who do private work?

He was a lovely chap who immediately understood what situation I was in… I had a rubbish GP and was looking at an 8 month wait to see a Rheumatologist in my own area. As I had steroid induced Hyperglycaemia as well as GCA & PMR, he realised I needed to be on a steroid sparer as well to help me reduce a bit faster.

He got me into the NHS clinic at MRI, Manchester Royal Infirmary, where I’m still attending.

The only negative was that I’ve never got to see him again, although he did say it was unlikely!

Very best wishes.

[Diver249 in reply to AmberGamble]

Thanks. I looked at his profile yesterday and think I could well see him. His profile mentions vasculitis and GCA.

[Rubha]

I saw a Dr Michael Reed at the Nuffield in Glasgow. His list of specialisations includes GCA. He was honest with me by saying that since he hadn’t seen me at the start of my GCA journey he was coming in later. Like most of them , he would like me off pred sooner rather than later but was accepting of my evidence based responses (all found on this forum). In fact his letter to my GP (whose initial pred dose he politely questioned !) called me a well informed patient. In other words « A bit of a know it all😁😁 « Hope this helps. His consultations are Tuesday afternoons.