Ongoing treatment when returning to UK

[Redtop1]

When we register with a GP the receptionists were like a pair of Rottweilers!  We had to show ID we used UK driving licenses and also a utility bill we used our councilrates bill.  We were told that they don’t contact Australia for medical history, they said they would contact our previous UK doctors (11years since we left so old records!!).

 I obtained 6 months worth of prescription medication before leaving Australia because I didn’t know how long it would take for us to get our permanent house.  The receptionist also told us that the Nurse Practioner deals with the initial appointment and she would decide if we could make an appointment to see a GP.  After much discussion we got appointments with a GP, but on the morning of the appointment the surgery rang and cancelled them, they did offer an alternative in the week before Christmas a and we had a lot of trades people scheduled to work on our house.

I have now been to the surgery and seen two different more pleasant and accommodating receptionists and arranged new appointments to see a GP.  So to date I haven’t seen a GP yet, but have received PAP test, Bowel Cancer Screening kit and Breast Screen appointment from the NHS.

I know this doesn’t help your situation but it what I have found so far and reserve my judgement until I actually get to see a GP!

So this is my experience thus far, I am in Somerset.

[Amber Snowball]

2 hours ago, Redtop1 said:

When we register with a GP the receptionists were like a pair of Rottweilers!  We had to show ID we used UK driving licenses and also a utility bill we used our councilrates bill.  We were told that they don’t contact Australia for medical history, they said they would contact our previous UK doctors (11years since we left so old records!!).

 I obtained 6 months worth of prescription medication before leaving Australia because I didn’t know how long it would take for us to get our permanent house.  The receptionist also told us that the Nurse Practioner deals with the initial appointment and she would decide if we could make an appointment to see a GP.  After much discussion we got appointments with a GP, but on the morning of the appointment the surgery rang and cancelled them, they did offer an alternative in the week before Christmas a and we had a lot of trades people scheduled to work on our house.

I have now been to the surgery and seen two different more pleasant and accommodating receptionists and arranged new appointments to see a GP.  So to date I haven’t seen a GP yet, but have received PAP test, Bowel Cancer Screening kit and Breast Screen appointment from the NHS.

I know this doesn’t help your situation but it what I have found so far and reserve my judgement until I actually get to see a GP!

So this is my experience thus far, I am in Somerset.

Yes, the Rottweiler treatment is common place amongst GP receptionists I think. When my aunt was quizzed by her GP’s receptionist she told her “she would speak to the organ grinder not the monkey “, went down like a bowl of cold sick but she got an appointment! ?

 Be interested to hear how you go once you actually get to speak to a doctor. Will you need any referrals on to specialist clinics or just ongoing treatment with the GP? 

I’d be interested in how long a referral to a specialist takes if you have any experience of that or know someone who does.

Thanks for replying. From what everyone has said it seems to be luck of the draw. Could just breeze in no questions asked or could be subjected to an inquisition. 

Guess we’ll have to be as prepared as possible and hope for the best. I have a plan b, which is expensive, but I can prepare for that.

Thanks again and good luck! ?

[bunbury61]

On ‎07‎/‎01‎/‎2018 at 07:27, Amber Snowball said:

Hi all, I have been lurking as a guest on this site for a couple of years now. Really since I started to feel unsettled in Australia. I have been here just over 12 years. My mum came over on a CPV (143) back in 2009. I am planning to return to the UK June time, with Mum in tow. 

My question is, how hard/long does it take to get registered with a GP, get an appointment, get referral and start treatment. She has 6 weekly injections for macular degeneration which will obviously need to continue as per the current timetable and are time sensitive, so we can’t just leave it for 3 months whilst we get settled. 

Her opthalmologist here trained in the UK (went to the secondary school round the corner from me in West London, can you believe it) and is going  to do a referral as soon as we have a departure date. He is of the opinion it could take weeks to get it in place.

We are not returning to the area we left and no family in the area we are thinking of heading to, so no interim address.

My current plan is; book holiday let, use that as a temp address, register with GP and hope that as our Aus ophthalmologist trained in the area we are heading to (Shropshire/Cheshire) he can use his contacts to get her onto a treatment program ASAP. Alternative is to pay privately for the first jab and hope NHS is in place for the rest. Not cheap, 1200-2000 per injection. 

Bit specific I know but thought plenty of diverse people on here, might have some insight on the current NHS system.

Thanks for reading and any thoughts.

amber - I had a relative who needs regular injections .....they came back on HOLIDAY TO THE U.K with a letter from oz with the requirements ,and received them ..no worries

[newjez]

14 minutes ago, bunbury61 said:

amber - I had a relative who needs regular injections .....they came back on HOLIDAY TO THE U.K with a letter from oz with the requirements ,and received them ..no worries

When? And where? The new requirements are fairly new. I've only seen them appearing over the past year, and not in every hospital.

But I still don't think the op will have an issue as they intend on being resident.

But holidays are a different thing.

Edited January 18, 2018 by newjez

[Amber Snowball]

9 hours ago, bunbury61 said:

amber - I had a relative who needs regular injections .....they came back on HOLIDAY TO THE U.K with a letter from oz with the requirements ,and received them ..no worries

Bloody love you!

Thanks Bunbury, that is reassuring but I will keep others experience in mind and take nothing for granted.

Did they get the injection on time or was there a bit of a wait to get them in?

[bristolman]

Just register with the GP at the earliest opportunity and get an appointment. We have never had any issues with getting appointments or treatment and as residents it will be the same for you. Good luck with your return. 

[Amber Snowball]

6 minutes ago, bristolman said:

Just register with the GP at the earliest opportunity and get an appointment. We have never had any issues with getting appointments or treatment and as residents it will be the same for you. Good luck with your return. 

Thanks Bristolman, it was the time sensitivity that was concerning me, but some have had positive experiences so we will see how we go. Having the ophthalmologist here have contacts in the UK is helpful. I’ll report back as we progress. 

[bristolman]

2 minutes ago, Amber Snowball said:

Thanks Bristolman, it was the time sensitivity that was concerning me, but some have had positive experiences so we will see how we go. Having the ophthalmologist here have contacts in the UK is helpful. I’ll report back as we progress. 

Some will inevitably disagree of course but we have had brilliant and very prompt treatment since being here in England. I have no doubt your mother's issue will be addressed in the same timely manner. 

[Amber Snowball]

Just to close the loop on this topic.

Getting registered with a gp hasn’t happened. The one near my aunts house where my mum was staying wanted a utility bill as proof of address. Not happening as the house belongs to my aunt. This resulted in a frank exchange of views so she’s not going back there.....Wasn’t there myself so not sure what was said/explained but it ended badly.

Mum now up in Cheshire with me, but no fixed address so unable to register with a gp.

The local commissioning groups won’t sanction treatment without a gp referral. Tried getting a referral from an optician in the area where she will be living but he can’t do them. He did, however, facilitate an appointment with the top chap in the area to get the injection at the correct time and we will pay the first one privately and then they will continue the treatment on the NHS once mum is registered with a doctor. The optician and the ophthalmologist and their staff have been lovely but their hands are tied.

We have an accepted offer on a flat for her and this should go through in the next 5 weeks or so, so hopefully plain sailing after that.

Thanks everyone for their advice and support, but big bucks for the first injection it is!

[BacktoDemocracy]

11 hours ago, Amber Snowball said:

Just to close the loop on this topic.

Getting registered with a gp hasn’t happened. The one near my aunts house where my mum was staying wanted a utility bill as proof of address. Not happening as the house belongs to my aunt. This resulted in a frank exchange of views so she’s not going back there.....Wasn’t there myself so not sure what was said/explained but it ended badly.

Mum now up in Cheshire with me, but no fixed address so unable to register with a gp.

The local commissioning groups won’t sanction treatment without a gp referral. Tried getting a referral from an optician in the area where she will be living but he can’t do them. He did, however, facilitate an appointment with the top chap in the area to get the injection at the correct time and we will pay the first one privately and then they will continue the treatment on the NHS once mum is registered with a doctor. The optician and the ophthalmologist and their staff have been lovely but their hands are tied.

We have an accepted offer on a flat for her and this should go through in the next 5 weeks or so, so hopefully plain sailing after that.

Thanks everyone for their advice and support, but big bucks for the first injection it is!

Hi, 

Don’t want to be  be overly heavy but could I just say that if you are bidding on a flat please get your solicitor to get details of any ground rent on it and how it is structured and the number of years left on the lease, there have been some recent scandals where leases have been constructed where ground rents are reviewed at a set number of years and increase by a set percentage meaning that they can effectively double in only a few years. The other problem is where ground leases have been sold on to 3rd or 4th parties, they then attempt to change the conditions in the lease, also get your solicitor to check if any other leaseholders are in arrears with their ground rents as this can mean the other lease holders end up bearing the cost of works should the leaseholder press on with essential works. Also make sure they get a schedule of anticipated works to the flats and if they charge to give permission for any alterations you might want to make.

 The number of years on a lease determines the value of a property to an extent and getting a lease extended is such an arcane proposition and lengthy process that  I would steer clear of anything that needs it.

Sorry, not trying to be gloomy but leasehold flats have become a legal nightmare in the UK , the whole concept is arcane and open to abuse and the govt simply refuses to protect leaseholders properly

If you want any advice just pm me

Edited July 20, 2018 by BacktoDemocracy

[Amber Snowball]

9 hours ago, BacktoDemocracy said:

Hi, 

Don’t want to be  be overly heavy but could I just say that if you are bidding on a flat please get your solicitor to get details of any ground rent on it and how it is structured and the number of years left on the lease, there have been some recent scandals where leases have been constructed where ground rents are reviewed at a set number of years and increase by a set percentage meaning that they can effectively double in only a few years. The other problem is where ground leases have been sold on to 3rd or 4th parties, they then attempt to change the conditions in the lease, also get your solicitor to check if any other leaseholders are in arrears with their ground rents as this can mean the other lease holders end up bearing the cost of works should the leaseholder press on with essential works. Also make sure they get a schedule of anticipated works to the flats and if they charge to give permission for any alterations you might want to make.

 The number of years on a lease determines the value of a property to an extent and getting a lease extended is such an arcane proposition and lengthy process that  I would steer clear of anything that needs it.

Sorry, not trying to be gloomy but leasehold flats have become a legal nightmare in the UK , the whole concept is arcane and open to abuse and the govt simply refuses to protect leaseholders properly

If you want any advice just pm me

Thanks, appreciate the info. I’m not a fan of leashold but this is a retirement flat in a McCarthy Stone type development. They pay a service charge for the maintenance etc. I will be asking the solicitor about a sink fund to ascertain if any further charges for work is possible. The best thing I suppose is that it is all older people who own the flats, not a mish-mash of ages/income/ownership. She had one in a council block years ago and that was a pain with those that owned their flat being slugged for works and council tenants not and then those that didn’t pay not caring to look after the place etc. Also the terrible quality of the councils work which you paid top dollar for! It’s a risk, but not really avoidable if we want a secure, low level assistance type environment.

Thanks again. 

[Chris N Lora]

On 07/01/2018 at 19:27, Amber Snowball said:

Thanks Quoll. No she doesn’t have citizenship but we will get a RRV, should get 5 Years and that will be enough if needed. She’s unlikely to want to do that journey in her 80’s to be honest. Not to mention she has no idea how to use a computer to take the test and no patience to learn.......

Good to know you had no issues. Just concerned that where we start off when arriving in temp accommodation may not be the area we end up in. Work being the obvious deciding factor. I will try to get a job before we leave, that will help. 

Your mum would not of  been  required to sit a Citizenship test exemptions

Edited July 21, 2018 by Chris N Lora

[Guest The Pom Queen]

22 hours ago, Amber Snowball said:

Just to close the loop on this topic.

Getting registered with a gp hasn’t happened. The one near my aunts house where my mum was staying wanted a utility bill as proof of address. Not happening as the house belongs to my aunt. This resulted in a frank exchange of views so she’s not going back there.....Wasn’t there myself so not sure what was said/explained but it ended badly.

Mum now up in Cheshire with me, but no fixed address so unable to register with a gp.

The local commissioning groups won’t sanction treatment without a gp referral. Tried getting a referral from an optician in the area where she will be living but he can’t do them. He did, however, facilitate an appointment with the top chap in the area to get the injection at the correct time and we will pay the first one privately and then they will continue the treatment on the NHS once mum is registered with a doctor. The optician and the ophthalmologist and their staff have been lovely but their hands are tied.

We have an accepted offer on a flat for her and this should go through in the next 5 weeks or so, so hopefully plain sailing after that.

Thanks everyone for their advice and support, but big bucks for the first injection it is!

That doesn’t sound very promising at all for those having to return Hun. 

[BacktoDemocracy]

2 hours ago, Amber Snowball said:

Thanks, appreciate the info. I’m not a fan of leashold but this is a retirement flat in a McCarthy Stone type development. They pay a service charge for the maintenance etc. I will be asking the solicitor about a sink fund to ascertain if any further charges for work is possible. The best thing I suppose is that it is all older people who own the flats, not a mish-mash of ages/income/ownership. She had one in a council block years ago and that was a pain with those that owned their flat being slugged for works and council tenants not and then those that didn’t pay not caring to look after the place etc. Also the terrible quality of the councils work which you paid top dollar for! It’s a risk, but not really avoidable if we want a secure, low level assistance type environment.

Thanks again. 

Agree.

[Amber Snowball]

10 hours ago, The Pom Queen said:

That doesn’t sound very promising at all for those having to return Hun. 

No, bit tricky but at least if you’re  prepared it’s better than a shock when you get there, she says frantically scrabbling around for a silver lining! 

 

[Amber Snowball]

11 hours ago, Chris N Lora said:

Your mum would not of  been  required to sit a Citizenship test exemptions

Thanks, yes someone else pointed that out but the wait time for the ceremony etc was against us by then, there appears to be a bit of a backlog. 

She is 78 now so a 5 year rrv allows some flexibility and she is adamant she doesn’t want to do the journey again. 

Thanks.