What's the process for getting a prescription?

My hubs needs to take Enbrel for his Ankylosing Spondilitis (form of arthritis). We can't bring it over with us as it needs to be kept refrigerated.  It gets shipped overnight in a cooler packed w/freezer bags, but I don't know if it would be temperature stable if we brought it over in a regular cooler bag. 

He could probably manage a week or so off of it but thats about it.

I'm still a bit confused about NHS and how to get established once we move.
Would he go to a GP? (Right now, its prescribed by his Rheumitologist - and i know I spelled that wrong, but its late here  ) Or would he have to go to a specialist?
CAN he go to a GP when he arrives?

Also: Its God-awful expensive here, and our health insurance has prescription coverage.
Does this exist in the UK? Would private insurance include prescription coverage?
Seriously, right now we pay $40 for a 3 month supply; w/o prescription coverage, it would be $1800.

Any input would be helpful. We'll be on a tight budget, and my hubs hadn't thought about the medical aspects....

Thanks so much!

I'm still a bit confused about NHS and how to get established once we move.
Would he go to a GP? (Right now, its prescribed by his Rheumitologist - and i know I spelled that wrong, but its late here  ) Or would he have to go to a specialist?
CAN he go to a GP when he arrives?

If he is on a visa that is valid for longer than 6 months, then he is entitled to use the NHS from the day he arrives in the UK on his visa. He (and you) would just need to register with a doctor's surgery (GP) and make an appointment.

Normally I would say he would need to go to a GP for his medication, but I just found this webpage about Enbrel (a UK site) and it seems to say that it would need to be prescribed by a consultant rheumatologist. However, I think his first point of call will need to be a GP who can then refer him to a consultant.

Also: Its God-awful expensive here, and our health insurance has prescription coverage.
Does this exist in the UK? Would private insurance include prescription coverage?
Seriously, right now we pay $40 for a 3 month supply; w/o prescription coverage, it would be $1800.

You're moving to Wales, right? In Wales, prescriptions are free, so he shouldn't have to pay a penny for his medication (unless it is considered under a different set of rules to normal prescriptions - for example, you have to pay more for medicines such as anti-malaria tablets than for normal prescriptions). In England, prescriptions are £7.20 and in Scotland they are £4 (but prescription charges are being abolished in Scotland in 2011), but prescriptions for birth control are free.

Normally I would say he would need to go to a GP for his medication, but I just found this webpage about Enbrel (a UK site) and it seems to say that it would need to be prescribed by a consultant rheumatologist. However, I think his first point of call will need to be a GP who can then refer him to a consultant.

Yep! GPs are the gatekeepers to the NHS...you generally go to your GP first and if you need a specialist for some reason, your GP will need to refer you.

Whilst prescriptions are £7.20 per item in England, if you need a lot of medication it's probably worth paying a monthly fee (I think it's about £40) for a card that then gets you all your prescriptions. Details are on NHS website.
Private insurance would not cover prescriptions.

My hubs needs to take Enbrel for his Ankylosing Spondilitis (form of arthritis). We can't bring it over with us as it needs to be kept refrigerated.  It gets shipped overnight in a cooler packed w/freezer bags, but I don't know if it would be temperature stable if we brought it over in a regular cooler bag. 

Thanks so much!

My dad has medicine which needs to be kept refrigerated and when he visits he brings it with him as hand luggage.  He has a very small styrofoam container and in that he puts his medicine and an ice pack.  He also brings a letter from his doctor to say what it is and that he needs to carry it with him so there are no problems getting it through security.  Perhaps you can just use the cooler that it is currently being sent to you.

I would definitley try and bring a supply over until he can get to a GP's surgery and get the meds he needs. If only a rhuemy can prescribe it, then he may have to wait a while until he can see one.

Since enebral is injectable, you can keep it cool just like insulin and you should also take it on the plane with you, as the cargo hold is not temperature stable. The TSA will let you take it on board, a doctor's note may be helpful, though not always required, they are used to injectable medicines, as long as there is a valid prescription.
  
There are a ton of products out there that keep insulin (so would work for enebral) cool for a long flight and a period of time-  There is something called a frio pack, that activates in water only and it will keep insulin cool for up 45 hours, even up to 100 ºF.  
 
http://www.frious.com/buy/

Thanks, all! This is wonderful help!

I will look into a frio bag - the styrofoam cooler they ship in is bigger than most of our carry-on sized bags! They pack about 10 freezer bags in there - so it weighs a ton, and doesn't necessarily keep it cool enough. We've had more than one shipment arrive with all the bags melted - which means the meds are useless. Hopefully the timing will work out as such that he'll have a full month's supply.

You guys are seriously fantastic! Thanks again!

Your husband will need to bring copies of his medical notes and a letter from his current Rheumatologist explaining the need for Enbrel.

Here are the guidelines regarding the use of Enbrel in the UK:

http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=12615&nbr=6523&ss=6&xl=999 [nofollow]

"Adalimumab or etanercept are recommended as treatment options for adults with severe active ankylosing spondylitis only if all of the following criteria are fulfilled.

    * The patient's disease satisfies the modified New York criteria for diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis.
    * There is confirmation of sustained active spinal disease, demonstrated by:
          o A score of at least 4 units on the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and
          o At least 4 cm on the 0 to 10 cm spinal pain visual analogue scale (VAS).

      These should both be demonstrated on two occasions at least 12 weeks apart without any change of treatment.
    * Conventional treatment with two or more non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs taken sequentially at maximum tolerated or recommended dosage for 4 weeks has failed to control symptoms."

Whilst prescriptions are £7.20 per item in England, if you need a lot of medication it's probably worth paying a monthly fee (I think it's about £40) for a card that then gets you all your prescriptions. Details are on NHS website.
Private insurance would not cover prescriptions.

The Prepayment Certificates are available for £28.25 for three months or £104 for a year. If buying a year's coverage, you can pay by direct debit in 10 installments.

The site for buying a PPC is http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx