AndrewMarilyn

Does anyone know the answer to this please?

What happens to our Medical records when we move from UK to Aus?

I assume they would be useful for the Aus doctors IF we were ill!

Alfresco

Phone your GP reception and they'll print them out for you for a small fee, then bring them with.

Wendy

I didn't bring mine. I refused to pay for them.

Centurion

I really didn't need to bother with medical records that documented a couple of visits to a GP for minor crap over the years. Unless you think it might actually be useful for an ongoing issue then the cost and hassle may not be worth it in my opinion.

Australian GP's, being that you pay them and not the state, I have always found to be far more thorough anyhow just a tangent.

Pollyana

Vast majority of Aussie GPs aren't interested in seeing your records anyway.

CEM

Your Uk records go back to a central storage place, apparently.

Surgeries should print a record of your clinical summary which includes any drugs prescribed + reactions/ allergies, significant past medical history and immunisations. The cost seems to vary from surgery to surgery. Ours were free. The information can be useful for your new gp - lots of people will have forgotten when they've had jabs and for what and even if they've ever had an adverse reaction to something.
However, if you haven't had any real health problems and don't want to pay, it's unlikely to make any difference to any treatment in Australia.

Wendy

Very true.

I have hypothyroidism (it basically doesn't work ) and they didn't even want to know what medication I was on in the UK. I had a full blood test done and was prescribed totally different drugs - they work a lot better too

Alfresco

It was quite scary to read mine, I didn't know I was in such bad shape.

Brought mine for my blood pressure. Will see if they care about them or not.

Pollyana

I did get mine though they have never surfaced for the file since I got here.

Bit concerning as they contain the results of some tests carried out on my Mum in the early 1980s (she said the doctor wondered why they never got the results ) and full details of a hospital stay to have tonsils removed, plus advice to stay off work as a result - as this was in 1971 and I still have my tonsils I had a closer look - they are the results of someone else's operation - the mother of one of my friends at the time

I also discovered that instead of just collapsing as a result of the whooping cough vaccine (as I'd always been told) I was actually rushed to hospital, stopped breathing and had to be resucitated

saxtonj

We paid for ours and bought them with is and what a waste of money and space that was.

unless you have a serious ongoing issue, or chronic disease wtih history, don't worry about it. They aren't interested out here. They will do a full medical the first time you 'join' a docs out here anyway.

I say join in quotes because you don't join or sign up as in the UK, but you do tend to have a regular that you visit.

Alfresco

Glad you recovered.

Maybe CVs (resumes) will go the same way.

Alfresco

So the first GP you visit will do the Full Monty on you?

I have high blood pressure, so do I need to present my UK GP letter stating what I take for it?

Ozzidoc

No


Take a copy of your presription or the packet or the labelled bottle or write out a list.

Alfresco

Thanks. I have all of that.

Pollyana

Not always. I've seen four different doctors in the time I've been here, they were all of the "whats wrong, have a prescription, lets get you out of here fast" brigade.
One was a little concerning as she kept referring to her English-Russian dictionary while talking to me (I'm not kidding either!)