NHS registration and getting crucial medications
May 7th 2018, 2:22 pm
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: East Seaxe
Posts: 72,593
NHS registration and getting crucial medications
So the OH takes some meds regularly that he absolutely must have. No missed doses. Upon moving back to the UK I understand that you can get on the local NHS register pretty quickly. But how long does it take to see an actual doc and get prescriptions started? And do NHS docs have access to the giant EPIC medical records data base used here so that they can see his records?
Thanks for any advice.
Thanks for any advice.
Last edited by Lion in Winter; May 7th 2018 at 2:24 pm.
May 7th 2018, 2:55 pm
#2
Concierge
Joined: May 2006
Location: ex ex-pat, in Taunton
Posts: 27,224
Re: NHS registration and getting crucial medications
So the OH takes some meds regularly that he absolutely must have. No missed doses. Upon moving back to the UK I understand that you can get on the local NHS register pretty quickly. But how long does it take to see an actual doc and get prescriptions started? And do NHS docs have access to the giant EPIC medical records data base used here so that they can see his records?
Thanks for any advice.
Thanks for any advice.
May 7th 2018, 3:20 pm
#3
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: East Seaxe
Posts: 72,593
Re: NHS registration and getting crucial medications
Usually within a few days to see a doc, especially if you explain why and prescriptions should be able to be prescribed the same day, but bring a list of the drugs and dosage for them to see., they are unlikely to be able to access medical records from other countries, they have enough problems finding records from the UK as there is NO national database.
Thanks Mike. So they don't require a specialist to do an exam and sign off on them in the UK first? (cardiology, in this case)
May 7th 2018, 3:21 pm
#4
I still dont believe it..
Joined: Oct 2013
Location: 12 degrees north
Posts: 2,777
Re: NHS registration and getting crucial medications
The hurdle is getting registered, then you can see a gp. You need some stuff to register like an address. Getting registered is being reported to take between 1 and 14 days depending on i guess whats said/circumstances. Seeing a gp - well in london it might be a week or longer unless its life threatening in which case a&e or an urgent care centre may prescribe emergency amounts. So as you see worst case - take a months worth with you.
There is a national patient db/record, its called the spine / summary care record but it doesnt record everything, but medications and allergies definitely.
There is a national patient db/record, its called the spine / summary care record but it doesnt record everything, but medications and allergies definitely.
May 7th 2018, 3:25 pm
#5
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: East Seaxe
Posts: 72,593
Re: NHS registration and getting crucial medications
The hurdle is getting registered, then you can see a gp. You need some stuff to register like an address. Getting registered is being reported to take between 1 and 14 days depending on i guess whats said/circumstances. Seeing a gp - well in london it might be a week or longer unless its life threatening in which case a&e or an urgent care centre may prescribe emergency amounts. So as you see worst case - take a months worth with you.
There is a national patient db/record, its called the spine / summary care record but it doesnt record everything, but medications and allergies definitely.
There is a national patient db/record, its called the spine / summary care record but it doesnt record everything, but medications and allergies definitely.
Thank you. Are you able to answer the specialist question above? I'm so used to the US system, whereby the family doc/gp will not prescribe things outside of his/her field of expertise that belong to a specialist.
May 7th 2018, 3:27 pm
#6
I still dont believe it..
Joined: Oct 2013
Location: 12 degrees north
Posts: 2,777
Re: NHS registration and getting crucial medications
So long as its nhs available by a gp they probably wont let the oh suffer - theyll i think give emergency supplies till they see a consultant but thats 3-6 months away.
May 7th 2018, 3:29 pm
#7
I still dont believe it..
Joined: Oct 2013
Location: 12 degrees north
Posts: 2,777
Re: NHS registration and getting crucial medications
May 7th 2018, 3:37 pm
#8
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: East Seaxe
Posts: 72,593
Re: NHS registration and getting crucial medications
It depends on the drug in use, specialist heart meds might not be prescribed by a gp unless you have prerequisite eg blood trsts, and some are specialist only [the gp is then told by the specialist and the gp then re-prescribes] and of course some are not used by the nhs fullstop. Depends. I am on one like that - my gp just acts for the specialist on his request so to speak.
So long as its nhs available by a gp they probably wont let the oh suffer - theyll i think give emergency supplies till they see a consultant but thats 3-6 months away.
If that's the case he would have to have emergency supplies. It's not a missable drug, not a question of suffering. It's not an exotic medication, but you can't just stop. He can bring his records from the US, if that helps at all.
May 7th 2018, 3:49 pm
#10
I still dont believe it..
Joined: Oct 2013
Location: 12 degrees north
Posts: 2,777
Re: NHS registration and getting crucial medications
Remember - they wont believe a piece of paper from abroad, they wont prescribe unless they believe its right and safe and something they understand. If its something the nhs doesnt do, they wont do it, fullstop, regardless of outcome - they will on the other hand treat the oh in the way they do for someone with their complaint.
However this is probably a storm in a teacup but we cant be sure so make sure you have a decent supply of ‘it’ when you arrive.
However this is probably a storm in a teacup but we cant be sure so make sure you have a decent supply of ‘it’ when you arrive.
May 7th 2018, 3:55 pm
#11
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: East Seaxe
Posts: 72,593
Re: NHS registration and getting crucial medications
Remember - they wont believe a piece of paper from abroad, they wont prescribe unless they believe its right and safe and something they understand. If its something the nhs doesnt do, they wont do it, fullstop, regardless of outcome - they will on the other hand treat the oh in the way they do for someone with their complaint.
However this is probably a storm in a teacup but we cant be sure so make sure you have a decent supply of ‘it’ when you arrive.
However this is probably a storm in a teacup but we cant be sure so make sure you have a decent supply of ‘it’ when you arrive.
"It" keeps his heart beating properly - so I'm hoping they won't decide it's something the NHS "doesn't do regardless of outcome". It's a pretty basic med. This is precisely the kind of anxiety I'm trying to avoid for him by getting info now.
If he needs a specialist appointment to get it, then that, of course, is what we need to know too.
May 7th 2018, 4:06 pm
#12
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Beautiful Dorset, UK
Posts: 2,195
Re: NHS registration and getting crucial medications
Check out the NHS website - you may get some clues as to how his particular issue is treated.
Here's an example page on AF -
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/atrial...-the-heartbeat
Here's an example page on AF -
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/atrial...-the-heartbeat
May 7th 2018, 4:06 pm
#13
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,024
Re: NHS registration and getting crucial medications
Can’t you get 3 mths supply? If so that should help or the first few months. I would obtain copies of all US medical records.
May 7th 2018, 4:10 pm
#14
Thread Starter
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Location: East Seaxe
Posts: 72,593
Re: NHS registration and getting crucial medications
Yes, I believe the insurance will cough up three months worth, and will bring all records. I just want to know what to do when (if) we get there and not leave it to chance.
May 7th 2018, 4:12 pm
#15
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: East Seaxe
Posts: 72,593
Re: NHS registration and getting crucial medications
Check out the NHS website - you may get some clues as to how his particular issue is treated.
Here's an example page on AF -
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/atrial...-the-heartbeat
Here's an example page on AF -
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/atrial...-the-heartbeat
Thanks. I will dig on there later to see if they cover "incoming patients from abroad" FAQs.