[lauralessa]

Hello friends.

I am living in UK for seven months and I am still not used to NHS procedures. I often get confused about the roles played by my GP and my rheumy.

Therefore, I have a basic doubt and couldnt find an answer at the NHS websites:

I live in Lambeth, London and my GP surgery is a few blocks from my place. As I have SLE for 13 years and have been pretty sick one year ago, the first time I went to the GP, I got a referal to St Thomas Hospital. And since December, I have been seen at the Louise Coote Unit, St Thomas Hospital - which is also clore to where I live.
But I am considering moving to North London to stay closer to my Uni and I might find a GP near there. In this case, would I loose the right of being treated at St Thomas?

Thanks a lot.

Laura

 

[Clare.T]

Hi Laura

I would be very surprised if there was any problem continuing treatment at St Thomas. You would still be entitled to referral there as being within the London area and as far as I know when you change GPs there is no obligation to start off with new referrals/ specialists unless you move right out of that area. Certainly as long as you are still in a London borough you would be OK
Maybe somebody with that very same experience will come along.


Clare

 

[greenhaggis]

I'm positive you are able to stay where you are! Louise Coote is unit that anyone is supposed to be able to be referred in the British Isles. It mentions on the St. Thoms/Louise Coote site the special type is referral system that operates (tertertitoral!! made be be word for it-or similar). People travel from far and wide to this unit and have GP's that are local to them

On the other hand for those people that want to go that live out of area they are hampered by the lack of funds for out of area referals so often can't even get one even in the first instance even though its allowed!!

The best thing to do is just contact the Loise Coote Unit for confirmation, the Nurse Angie online is a good way to do that!

Take care,

Lesley