Changing doctors and specialists

[imtrying]

hey all,

just wondered if anyone else has had to go through this....

I have recently moved to a different county (not country!!). I found my local diabetes centre, spoke to them and was told I had to be referred by a local dr before getting an appointment. that I didn't have a problem with.

I went and registered with a new dr and in going back to have different appointments with them, have been told it can take up to 6 weeks for my records to reach them!!!

so I was told I couldn't be prescribed insulin or any other diabetes paraphernalia as I could be asking for anything (which I can accept). but this also means I can't be referred to a new diabetes centre until my records are transferred.

in the interim I have asked my old drs surgery (which thankfully are absolutely brilliant) to fax my new drs a list of my current medication so I can get prescriptions. but for now I have to sit and wait for my records to transfer over.

I just wondered if this is normal?? my new dr was just like 'it takes 6 weeks' and that was it, like tough you'll just have to wait! I convinced him to prescribe me blood test strips, only to get it made up and realise he'd only prescribed one box!!!! that will last me about a week.

arrrrrrgggghhhh. sorry, rant over!

 

[margie]

Can't your Dr's receptionist or practice manager use the phone - that should get them the information about you that they need for preseciptions and your referral.

Saying you can't have a prescription for insulin till the records are transferred is ridiculous. What are you meant to do run out, collapse and end up in AandE.

 

[imtrying]

Can't your Dr's receptionist or practice manager use the phone - that should get them the information about you that they need for preseciptions and your referral.

Saying you can't have a prescription for insulin till the records are transferred is ridiculous. What are you meant to do run out, collapse and end up in AandE.

with the referral they've said they can't do anything until they receive my records.

with the medication, now I've had my old drs fax over the medication, I should be able to request prescriptions now...

just find it all a bit strange that what I'm doing to get them is out of the norm, and I'm shocked at what they think normal procedure should be. I don't want to wait 6 weeks for prescriptions or a new diabetes centre!

and of course, it's all left down to me to do the running around and coming up with alternatives!! lol

 

[Caroline]

Three years ago we adopted a child and needed to transfer his medical records over to our GP. The recpetionist said it could take up to six weeks to transfer records, but if he was ill make an appointment and they'd contact the other doctor.

I thought these days it was all done elctronically, but not certain.

 

[margie]

I thought these days it was all done elctronically, but not certain.

You would have hoped so. However, my FILs GP told me that they were one of the first to have an electronic system but it is not compatible with the one that was later rolled out to the other surgeries in the area. She said if he moved practices they would have to print everything out and pass it on. It seems ridiculous to me they should have produced systems that were compatible.

 

[Copepod]

For students or those working away from home, it can be even more complicated. Based on my experiences, I'd say don't change GPs unless it's a permanent move and you have to. However, I'm lucky that I only really need repeat prescriptions, attend hospital once per year, and have only attended GP for "random" events (ie not vaccinations) about 3 times in past 12 years.

When I moved from Birmingham to start studying in London in Oct 1997, I registered with college surgery, which involved an appointment with GP in Jan 1998 (didn't need to get any prescriptions before then, so didn't attend), which was actually quite useful, as the GP I saw was very concerned about the recent change in the law, resulting in a blanket ban of anyone using insulin from driving minibuses and vans - nice to know someone cared, even though the situation didn't really change. In May 1998, I moved to Belfast to carry out my research. When I needed a repeat prescription, I sent a request to GP in London with stamed addressed envelope and got items in Belfast.

More recently, 2006/7, I spent a year working in Newcastle upon Tyne, but stayed registered with GP in Cambridge. I returned home at least twice per month, but usually at weekends, so again used post and SAEs for prescriptions. Only had a problem when they phoned me on mobile to invite me for flu jab and I said I couldn't attend as I was in Tyneside through the week. I explained that my home (partner, cat and ducks) remained in Cambridge and that I would be returning within 12 months. I wrote a note to GP to confirm the phone conversation with receptionist, next time I sent a repeat prescription request.

 

[imtrying]

You would have hoped so. However, my FILs GP told me that they were one of the first to have an electronic system but it is not compatible with the one that was later rolled out to the other surgeries in the area. She said if he moved practices they would have to print everything out and pass it on. It seems ridiculous to me they should have produced systems that were compatible.

That's exactly what I was told....all drs are electronic now (I think!) but to transfer it's only useful if the 2 suregeries use exactly the same system...otherwise, they resort to the papertrail!

I also got told it doesn't go straight to my new drs but via the counties something-or-other (sorry can't remember what it was called!)