Treatment on the Isle if Wight

[nicholson27]

Hi, I am interested if anyone on the forum is receiving treatment for GPA or similar from St Mary’s hospital on the Isle of Wight. If so, what are their experiences of care there for their condition?

I have GPA and we are considering moving to the island in the future but are worried about getting treatment for my condition if it becomes necessary. I am currently treated at Addenbrookes vasculitis clinic and would probably stay under their care and just make the journey for the regular appointments but would obviously need a more local back up option for emergencies.

Thank you.

[Nadine99]

Hello, we were contemplating moving to the Isle of Wight last year and investigated the main hospital there. We found that although some treatments (my husband has GPA) could be carried out there, most would have to be done with a Vasculitis specialist that is at Portsmouth. This would obviously entail a ferry trip but you can get reduced prices if it's for a hospital visit or you get reduced ferry prices with a blue badge. We decided not to move there but for different reasons, not health connected.

[nicholson27 in reply to Nadine99]

Thank you very much for the helpful information.

Stay safe and I hope your husbands GPA is doing ok.

Alan

[pigeon12]

I live in Portsmouth and was diagnosed with GPA in the summer of 2026 at the Queen Alexander hospital in the city. I had a very serious case and was fortunate to be treated by an excellent team of doctors and nurses there. It is the regional centre for vasculitis and they have built up expertise and knowledge from treating larger numbers of patients than could be found in smaller hospitals. I was seen by specialist renal, respiratory and rheumatology consultants in the first few months and now that I am in remission I see Dr Ernest Wong who is a rheumatologist and Dr Mark Uniacke who is a renal specialist at three monthly intervals. I can't praise them or the team working with them highly enough.

[nicholson27 in reply to pigeon12]

Thank you very much for the helpful information. It is good to know that there are doctors with specialist vasculitis knowledge only a short journey away should we end up moving to the island.

I was in remission myself for about a year or so but unfortunately flared again at the end of last year so am back on regular rituximab infusions but now also need immunoglobulin injections as immune system now virtually nonexistent.

Hope your remission stays and thanks again for the information.

Alan