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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/12/2010 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
I would like to say HI. i am back again in the form. week ago i moved to the Uk to finish my studies ,exactly in Coventry, i found it a very good country to live in.

Actually , i am asking about the NHS


if their anyone know how they will treat me , the medication they can cover and how much it takes to see a doctor

Now i am on 30 mg of prednisolone and i dint know that it is illegal to buy any medication here without a prescription and i don't know what to do. stop the prednisolone directly will make the worst flare ever
Posted 10/12/2010 7:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hi there,
I live in the UK and consider my treatment here to be very good,sometimes when I read about people having problems with insurance I think what a nightmare and if your ill as well I don't know how people cope.
I think most of the hellish stories people in the USA here about how terrible the NHS is are more one off stories rather than an indication of what the NHS is like as a whole.
You will register under a local Doctor same as (primary care I think ) then you will be put under the care of a GI at your nearest hospital who you will be able to see when you feel necessary,or three month or six month apointments depending on what medication you are on.
If your not working all meds rectals, (asas pentesa etc) prednisilone,imuran,6-mp are free but they must be pescribed by a Doctor,you can't just go and buy them from a pharmacy.
If you are working and earn over £15,000 a year,you can either pay £7 a pescribtion.or buy a card for £110 a year which entitles you to free scripts for a year,everything is free for children,full-time students,and over 65years.
The only thing you can't get anymore is remicade and biologics they are know only available to crohns patients.
When I was at my worst I was offered a two step J-pouch done lapriscopy surgery the surgeon who was going to do the op had done some training at the Cleveland clinic,and was currently doing about two a year.
I don't think that is bad and I'm now a big suporter of the NHS,and the believe of free care at the point of need to protect the most vunerable in our society.
Posted 10/12/2010 8:39 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,i live in the UK too and i think AnnaG has hit the nail on the head there and covered everything. I personally have had no problems at all with the NHS,infact i am more than pleased with the way they have treated me but you do have to keep on to them at times but thats just a little bugbare.
My GI put me in touch with a IBD nurse who is great,any probs and i just give her a call and 9 times out of 10 she can fit me in within a day or 2.
Im going for an ileostomy on 28th oct to get rid of this desease and its being done on the NHS & i have 100% faith in them, The surgeon &stoma nurse etc have been really helpful and they are on the end of the phone if i need them.
The NHS doesnt always get the credit it deserves but a 'thumbs up' from me.
ROF
Posted 10/12/2010 9:15 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Good luck with your studies. I lived in the UK for seven years and had mixed experiences on the NHS as I have in many other medical systems. To answer your questions, find out where your closest GPs offices are and go in and register. They will likely give you an in take appointment. If they aren't taking patients, you'll have to go a little further from where you live to find someone (I lived in London and this was very difficult to find GPs who were taking new patients but I'm not sure about Coventry). This might take a while and if you can't wait, I guess you'll have to go to your local ER and explain you need meds.
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