Relocating and continuity of diabetes care

[JennyJ]

Hi! I am type 1 and seeking advice on continuity of care when relocating. I have just moved from Hertfordshire to Croydon for work. I am currently looked after by a very good team at Watford General Hospital and intend to maintain care there until my next annual review. This is mainly to ensure minimum stress as I start a new job as I know I can contact a DSN who knows me and my diabetes well. Ultimately I have to consider, however, whether to seek a referral to a more local hospital - a London hospital is a possibility. I wondered whether anyone could offer advice or their experience in similar situations? I do have the option to remain under the care of Watford hospital and am well supported there. I am considering (on recommendation of my current DSN and consultant) moving to an insulin pump in the next year so know also that that would require ease of access to a hospital clinic. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Estellaa]

i had the best care about 5 years ago, but since then i have moved 3 times and each time the care can't compare to them. its ridiculous and makes me really angry.
try and stick with people you know and who know you at least they know your situation x

 

[Northerner]

Hi JennyJ, I don't have any experience of hospital clinics in the Croydon area, hopefully someone will be able to make some recommendations 🙂 I would be tempted to stick with Watford though if it's not too inconvenient, as you are happy with the care there, and it sounds like possibly one of your best chances for getting a pump - a new clinic may take much longer to make a decision and may not even be pump friendly. Might be worth having a word with INPUT as they may be able to advise on good pump-friendly clinics in your new area 🙂

 

[JennyJ]

Hi! I'm going to stay with them for the time being - 6 months until my annual review appointment and I don't want the stress of new appointments and clinics at the start of my new job. I was diagnosed just over three years ago at 25. The team at Watford have suggested that Kings College Hospital may be a good option since I am south of the river and they have a very good diabetes centre, but I'm delaying the decision until January. I guess my thinking is that at some point I may well move again (in the London area) and so a central London hospital may continue to be easier to get to than Watford.

 

[Andrew]

Changing medical care

Hi
Changing medical practice --- from experience gained moving around -- I would suggest finding out about the practices in the area you are moving to -- I have found that service has varied a lot from practice to practice -- and even doctor to doctor within a practice. and as for Asthma nurses ---- some of them seem to only know what the computer say's -- no real background knowledge is apparent.
This is for asthma not diabetes but I think applies
I have changed Dr 7 times in the last 18 years ----Beaminster – Chard – Reepham – North Elmham – Bugbrooke and Eddington are rural practices – Wellingborough was a town practice.
The worst care I received was at Wellingborough the town practice – very difficult to get appointments – horrendous for getting repeat prescriptions – never answered the phone --- and changing practices within the town did not happen -- all over subscribed
--- the place I got a sever reprimand from was North Elmham – I had a bad chest infection but I was busy and going away for the weekend put off going to the Dr for a week -- when I went I got advised strongly that 2500 asthmatics a year die from asthma attack and I should be thankful I was not one of them!!! Many pills—



And as for finding a dentist --- ring the family practitioner service and pray -- if you need one getting in to an NHS practice can take months in some town’s. and the private one’s are expensive to boot.

 

[trophywench]

Kings College Hospital is actually renowned as a 'centre of excellence' for diabetes care.

The Professor of Behavioural Medicine in Nursing there is personally known to me and she applied for that job specifically because of the reputation and resources at KCH in respect of Diabetes - her 'specialist subject' being Diabetes Distress ........

I also know someone who goes to Croydon Hospital. He's a T1 pumper and one of the two founders of www.diabetes-support.org and should you want to know owt about Croydon you can get in touch with him via that forum (it's OK - that forum and this one are good friends LOL)

If you want to do that, PM me on here and I'll give you his user name on there.

 

[PattiEvans]

🙂Was just going to say what you said Trophywench but you got there first

 

[Dorset Dumpling]

Andrew How was Beaminster practice ? And which one were you with? I am not happy with Bridport Medical Centre and was thinking about applying to change to one of the Beaminster practices even before my T2 diagnosis. Kath

 

[Andrew]

Dr

Hi

I was with the one that is now in tunnel road -- on the right had side as you drive up the roads towards the tunnel which is still closed from its collapse last year --- how was it? I found it to be very good my parents are still with the practice after 52 years with it - I hope the information helps. the Dr I knew died a couple of years ago

my mother is involved with the church at melplash

we use the vet that it just up the hill on the right as well -- for the dog's that is!!

Andrew How was Beaminster practice ? And which one were you with? I am not happy with Bridport Medical Centre and was thinking about applying to change to one of the Beaminster practices even before my T2 diagnosis. Kath

 

[JennyJ]

Thanks for all the comments! I had a helpful conversation with my DSN today and need to do some fact finding and speak to my new GP re staying at Watford/referral to Kings and securing funding from local CCG. Fingers crossed for a positive outcome!

 

[Northerner]

Thanks for all the comments! I had a helpful conversation with my DSN today and need to do some fact finding and speak to my new GP re staying at Watford/referral to Kings and securing funding from local CCG. Fingers crossed for a positive outcome!

Hoping for the best! 🙂