Has anyone from Wales been referred to a hospital/Consultant in England, recently, to treat their particular type of vasculitis?

[John_Mills]

[SusanCh]

Hi I don't live in Wales but just over the border and our local hospital normally accepts Welsh patients. I was told on Monday in Rheumatology though I understand that this applies to all hospital depts, that they will no longer treat Welsh patients as the Welsh Government has decided that all of them must be treated in Wales and so they won't pay our Hospital for their treatment.

[John_Mills Volunteer in reply to SusanCh]

Thanks for this Sue...we have been contacted by three different people in the last week.. from Wales who tried to get referrals to see Vasculitis Specialits in England.. one has been given no proper diagnosis yet and has been ill for 5 years.... one has TAK and been refused a referral to the consultant at Hammersmith who specialises in TAK and another lady who has Behcets and has been refused a referral to Birmingham (one of the 4 centres who trreat Behcet patients) it all sounds very unfair for people in Wales who cannot get access to some of the best Vasculitis Consultants in the UK. But we are working on it with the help of others.. ...

[SusanCh in reply to John_Mills]

Hi the argument that the Welsh Government seem to have put forward is that patients can get adequate treatment in hospitals in Wales but as we know, even in England you cannot always get the proper treatment for Vasculitis . You have to go to the specialist centres wherever they are. It seems unfair when we live in the same country! Perhaps their doctors can make a case for them needing specialist treatment. It would appear that free prescriptions and car parking has diverted money from patients. I was told that existing Rheumatology patients from Wales are being sent to different hospitals in Wales even though they have been coming to Chester for years so there has been a lot of upset patients here. I know someone in her 20s with WG from Wales who goes to Chester and Addenbrookes. I will try and contact her to find out if she has been affected.

[John_Mills Volunteer in reply to SusanCh]

thanks for this Sue xx

[John_Mills Volunteer]

I will send you an email Sue..gleaned some interesting information..