Moving to the UK

Hello everybody!

My name is Mantha and I've been a Type 1 Diabetic since 31.12.1994! I've been using an insulin pump (Medtronic Minimed 640G) since 2012. Multiple Sclerosis also came into my life in May 2014. This is going to be sort of a long post and I am really sorry for that. But I am also very stressed and frustrated!

I live in Greece and I want to move to the UK to work and follow my fiance who has been living and working there for the past 3 years. Unfortunately, so far it has been quite hard to find out how everything works, concerning medications, treatment and doctors. I have a lot of questions and I am to scared to move if I do not have answers. The questions I will post here are the same ones my fiance has printed out and is going around asking and calling people to help us out.

So, let's start:
1. How do I get insured with the NHS? Are there certain criteria? What paperwork is needed?
2. How do I get my prescriptions? Do GPs do everything or will they need to send me to other doctors according to my health issues? (Endocrinologist and neurologist)
3. Do I have to pay for my insulin pump consumables? We are talking about insulin, cannulas, infusion sets, test strips and lancets.
4. Where do I get all this from? The pharmacy, the surgery or a hospital?
5. How long does it take for the NHS to start covering my needs? Is there a waiting period or can I go to the doctor right away? What happens in my case where everything is of vital importance?
6. If there is a waiting period, can I still, somehow, get my medication from my home country, Greece? Do I need specific papers for that?
7. My use of an insulin pump has been approved by Greek doctors and the Greek health care system. Is there going to be a problem in order to continue getting the needed consumables? Do I have to translate the Greek government papers that approved it and deposit them somewhere?
8. Do I need to translate anything else related to my health issues?
9. Is there a difference in the NHS coverage if I am working or unemployed?
10. I’ve read that “up-to-date medical records” are needed. What exactly does that mean? All I have are past examinations results. Doctors and hospitals here don’t keep medical records of patients unfortunately. How may I proceed?

Sorry again for the long post. But you all know and understand how important all this is to Diabetics..

Thank you all in advance for you time and your help!
Mantha

Resurgam said:

As your fiancé is already in the UK and you will presumably be joining him perhaps he could request information from the GP surgery where he has registered - assuming that he has done so. If not perhaps you could prompt him to start the process.
From what I have overheard at my own surgery it is not a difficult process to be registered. I suspect that you would need to show information about your present requirements and have a translation if possible, to show the doctor here, but as you will arrive here with your present setup then ongoing treatment should not be a problem if you take care to have the packaging of the insulins for instance.

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We've already tried asking his GP but unfortunately they weren't too keen on helping us out.. He's got an appointment again tomorrow, maybe third time's the charm!

Resurgam said:

The conversations I have overheard about registering have been at the desk, with the receptionists giving advice on the process - perhaps that might be the way to go. They seem to be the ones who sort out any paperwork.

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My finace will try again tommorrow so hopefully we'll get somewhere! Thanks a lot!!!

catapillar said:

1. You don't get insured with the NHS. It's not an insurance system. If you are resident in the uk then healthcare is free at the point of access. So you will need to prove residence in the uk.

2. Prescriptions will all come via your GP. But in order to confirm the prescription your GP may require specialist review.

3. If your pump is provided on the NHS you won't be paying for any consumables. I would suggest looking at input diabetes for advice for people on pumps looking to move to the uk and access pumps on the NHS - http://www.inputdiabetes.org.uk/faqs/to-uk-from-overseas/

4. You pump consumables (cannulas and reservoirs) will be paid for by your CCG and they will set you up with your own Medtronic account so that you can arrange deliveries when needed. Your insulin and test strips will be on prescription via the GP to pick up from the pharmacy.

5. In theory all you need to prove is the intention to be permanently resident, if you haven't lived in the uk for a year you are likely to face further inquiry into this.

6. No idea. Ask someone in Greece.

7. Again, ask input diabetes. Realistically, in order to get NHS funding for an insulin pump a consultant endocrinologist input is required.

8. I wouldn't have thought so

9. No.

10. It's highly unlikely that hospitals and doctors in Greece don't keep medical records. If that's the case and your up to date medical records don't exist, then they don't exist.

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Wow! That is a lot of information! Rhank you so so much!!! It's all so helpful to us!!! I'll look into all of it in the hopes of moving there soon!

P.S. I know it's strange to hear that medical records may not be kept. I think it's stupid but our sad reality here..

Rachox said:

I don’t know about this myself Mantha but this might help:
https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application

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I'll look into that! Thanks a lot! Every piece of information is highly appreciated!!!