Health question

[Guest The Pom Queen]

To be honest even as admin I've no idea where to post this. Anyway a question. I've been told I need some tests/treatment that can't be done in Australia, my options are Mayo in USA or Bristol UK. Obviously America would cost a fortune but if I went back to the UK would I get charged, I'm presuming because I haven't been back in well over 10 years I would. I wouldn't even have any English ID if they asked for it as My passport and driving license have expired.

As anyone gone back and had treatment whilst there? I'm presuming you would need a UK dr to refer etc.

[AJ]

Not sure but you couldnt exactly turn up at a hospital and tell them exactly what tests you would need, they would know that you dont live in UK by your records.  I think it would need to be a referral from a UK Doctor, then they would want to do all their own tests probably first to check.  Are you able to call the hospital in UK and check?  Or check with a Private hospital, might still be cheaper than going to the U.S.

Why cant they do it in Australia?  Is it the expense or just not available?  

Edited July 3, 2017 by AJ

[Guest The Pom Queen]

46 minutes ago, AJ said:

Not sure but you couldnt exactly turn up at a hospital and tell them exactly what tests you would need, they would know that you dont live in UK by your records.  I think it would need to be a referral from a UK Doctor, then they would want to do all their own tests probably first to check.  Are you able to call the hospital in UK and check?  Or check with a Private hospital, might still be cheaper than going to the U.S.

Why cant they do it in Australia?  Is it the expense or just not available?  

Thanks @AJ what I have is extremely rare and there is no more testing/treatment available in Australia, yes hopefully in the future but that may be too late for me. He gave me the name of both specialists in the U.K. And USA so I may drop them an email to find out. 

As you mentioned I can imagine them wanting to start all the tests again 

[ScottieGirl]

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/uk-visitors/visiting-england/Pages/visitors-from-outside-the-eea.aspx

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/uk-visitors/Pages/access-services-in-England.aspx

The short answer is yes you would as you are not ordinarily resident.

[ramot]

I worry because it is a pre existing condition it might be difficult to get insurance and not sure if travel insurance would cover treatment.

Might be worth finding out what the Bristol cost would be? Sometimes going direct and explaining you have to pay, not using insurance the price quoted is cheaper. 

Don't know if my experience will be of any use.

I have recently been in UK for 3 months, and had a bit of a bad visit health wise. 

Although I live in OZ, I am on a long term temporary retirement visa, and fall between the cracks as don't have Medicare and therefor no reciprocal cover with NHS.

I went to A&E   no charge

I went to a follow up clinic   no Charge

Twice to one GP     no charge

Once to different GP   no charge

I explained on every occasion that I lived in OZ, but no reciprocal rights. Have a British passport and gave my NI number but have no national health? number.

No one wanted to know, and no charge for scripts either. 

We always have insurance so I was covered and prepared to pay.

We were in Bristol and stayed in airbnb and should you go there will pass on where we stayed, but places get very booked up especially in summer.

I do hope you can sort something out, I know I hardly ever post any more ( you know the reason) but I do pop in from time to time, but do follow how you are doing and really hope you can get something arranged. xxM

[Guest]

I'd go direct and contact Bristol and enquire as to what the costs of these tests would be done privately. 

You would have to pay as per the above, but I can't see what is stopping you from having these tests if you are prepared to pay for them privately. Its only tests, not treatment and if paying and not going via NHS routes, does it matter where you are normally resident?  

I'd imagine it would require a referral and arranging with the Bristol centre but I'd hope it could be done privately if you wanted to go ahead with the tests. 

 

[ScottieGirl]

I assume it's hospital treatment which means you can't rock up without a referral, that can be from a UK GP or another specialist. The NHS is woefully equipped both systemwise and culturally for collecting cash and as your case is rare the physician may well be happy to provide his/her consultations free of charge if it is something of special interest. Treat it like a business transaction and ask them for a quote. I agree with Ramot be totally transparent about your situation, as the NHS is not for profit you may be pleasantly surprised with the outcome

Good luck.

[Johndoe]

Seeing as it's a rare condition, have you thought about looking at what research is being done? I know someone who had a very rare condition (off the top of my head less than 100 sufferers in Oz) and they managed to get enrolled into a trial in the US with all costs covered.

[Guest The Pom Queen]

30 minutes ago, Johndoe said:

Seeing as it's a rare condition, have you thought about looking at what research is being done? I know someone who had a very rare condition (off the top of my head less than 100 sufferers in Oz) and they managed to get enrolled into a trial in the US with all costs covered.

The mayo do trials all the time for different drugs etc but I didn't know how that would work with me being here. Like you say I think I need to contact them and have a chat.

[Johndoe]

11 minutes ago, The Pom Queen said:

The mayo do trials all the time for different drugs etc but I didn't know how that would work with me being here. Like you say I think I need to contact them and have a chat.

Hope you get some resolution chook  (I miss the old hug smiley)

[ScottieGirl]

3 hours ago, The Pom Queen said:

The mayo do trials all the time for different drugs etc but I didn't know how that would work with me being here. Like you say I think I need to contact them and have a chat.

For new drug trials the hospital and treating physician have to be registered with the sponsor, usually a pharma or biotech company. You would have to attend regularly,  number of visits depending on the disease but almost certainly 0, 4 and 12 weeks to start with. No attendance no drugs. You also have to match the patient criteria. Australian hospitals and doctors can be registered and for very rare conditions this is more likely as they won't fill their quota from the US alone. 

You can check what trials are available where and what the criteria are using  clinicaltrials.gov It's not patient friendly, have a look and if you want help let  me know, I used to search it for a living.