New Englander moving to Wales

First I'd like to say thank you to everyone who posts on this site. I am so thankful that I finally came across this great resource!

A couple of weeks ago, my partner's employer gave him the opportunity to go to Wales for work. We thought it was a great opportunity and he accepted the offer. The move should occur in the next 3-6 months. Since I heard the news, I've been researching what I can to figure what steps need to be taken regarding our dogs, housing, visa etc. One very important aspect that I've been having difficulty finding information on is my health situation. I suffer from Chronic Pain and have been on medication for it for quite a while. I've been through MRIs, Physical Therapy etc. The same specialist has been treating me since my diagnoses based on referrals from my Primary Care Physician. I'm VERY excited about this move and I look forward to a new way of life and experiencing different cultures. However, I know nothing about NHS and what process I need to implement to be sure that my care continues. I cannot go without treatment while I hack away at red tape. Has anyone else had a pre-existing health condition while relocating to the UK? If so, I'd appreciate any information.

Sorry I don't have any advice about preexisting conditions, but I will tell you that you'll get free prescriptions in Wales which is definitely a good thing!

Where are you in New England and where are you going to in Wales?

I'm the same, don't have tons of advice, but I love living in Wales.  It's a great place.  I find on the whole that I'm able to get pretty good treatment, but it often takes longer to get it set up in the UK than it did in the US.

I suspect you'd get more response if you posted this thread with a topic that reflected your health questions rather than your geography.  Make your thread as specific as you feel comfortable being in a forum and you'll get more specific responses.

By the way, I'm not sure where you are moving to, but if the NHS doesn't cut it for you, there is a private BUPA hospital in Cardiff where you can pay for private treatment.

Make sure you bring your medical records over with you and show them to your GP in Wales straight away- that should help quite a bit.

Is the employer an American company?  Do they send other employees abroad?  If so, maybe they can help with the medical coverage aspects.

Thank you all for the advice!
I've since spoken with my doctors here and they are also willing to help with the transfer as much as they are able to (records etc.) I don't think I'll be too far from Cardiff so I may be able to use a private doc until everything gets sorted.
I'm currently living in Vermont and the company is international- US, Canada, Germany, UK, Argentina etc. I believe that I can get coverage through them if it's needed.

I'm currently living in Vermont and the company is international- US, Canada, Germany, UK, Argentina etc. I believe that I can get coverage through them if it's needed.

I would do that if you can.  It would probably avoid the hassle of trying to register with NHS etc. and if you're not planning on being there forever it might be easier.  Can they put you in touch with anybody else they've sent to UK so you could get advice from them?

Hi, maybe my two pence can help--

If your husband is relocating for work, you can use the NHS as soon as you move, assuming his work is taking care of visas for the both of you.  Covering your pre-existing conditions, it's anyone's guess, the NHS works a bit diff in all four home nations.

I think it will all be down to the GP you go to in the end, if he/she reviews your notes and carries out their own examination they'll probably just write a Rx for you, or will refer you to OPD (if you go to hosp for your current treatment in the states).

I think your best bet is to go to the Wales NHS website http://www.wales.nhs.uk/directory.cfm and find out what your Local Health Board is.  If you're close to Cardiff, chances are it will be the Cardiff LHB.  Then, contact the LHB to find out what your options are and if you are covered.

This might not apply to you at all, but if you've been dealing with Fletcher Allen, start working on getting medical record copies now. It took ages for them to get their act together, and what I got in the end was still missing loads of things like test results from biopsies, x-ray readings, and specialist care. I know others who have had the same experience with the records department there.

(I was in Burlington before I moved to Weston-super-Mare almost two years ago.)

On this end, with some things I'm starting from scratch, which is frustrating. With others, they've just picked up where I was. It doesn't exactly make sense, but some specialists like to do everything themselves. I would recommend taking a copy of your records to each specialist. The records transfers here are painfully slow.