Registering to with a GP with a pre-existing condition

I did not know if anyone could give me any advise about their experience registering with your local GP for the first time if you have a health issue what needs to be addressed right away?

Bit of back story, about a month ago I went in to the doctors here in the States and was diagnosed with hypothyroid, the past few weeks hasn't been ideal, needless to day my reaction to thyroxine has caused me a lot of health related grievances and although my doctor has been very helpful I now find myself just getting the last bunch of tests/xrays/a MRI over with this week because I will be leaving shortly to join my husband in London.

Needless to say this is not how I wanted to spend my last few weeks in the States, my husband just moved about to registered with a GP, I have proof of address and know I will have to go in and register myself when I come over. Part of me feels very nervious and disheartened to have to tell them that I will need to get setup for treatment/prescriptions right way. Also address some of the major complications I have experienced in the last two weeks.

I am so nervous about how I should address this as I go in to register. I will not be working so there is part of me that's ashamed as well.

It should be no problem at all... there's no issues with pre-existing conditions and the NHS because the NHS has to treat everyone in the country, regardless of their health. You'll just need to register with a GP and then make an appointment to discuss your prescriptions/treatment. It's a good idea to take doctor's notes from the US to show to the UK GP so that they can see what you've had done so far.

Also, if you are getting treatment for a thyroid problem, then you will get all of your prescriptions free on the NHS - not just prescriptions for thyroxine, but for any medication you may require!

And don't worry about registering when you aren't working - I didn't start paying taxes until I was out of full-time education (age 22), yet I was treated free on the NHS from the moment I was born... I didn't even start paying for prescriptions until I was 19 .

I have asthma and registered at the GP with no problem.  My MIL went with me.  I had to fill out some forms and that was about it.  I had my medical records with me from the US and gave those to the GP so they had some history on me.  I made an appointment for a few days later to meet with the doctor and get a new prescription for my inhaler, again with no problems.


My advice: get all medical records that you can before you leave- including your general doctor, any throid specialits, OBGYN, etc and give all of them to the GP when you register.  You should have no problems registering, especially if you're registering at the GP your husband already goes to (ie- there's someone to vouch for you in case there may be an issue- I know there are stories on UKY).  Then when you fill out the forms make an appointment to meet with your doctor to get new prescriptions.

As far as the prescriptions for free, you may have to file additional forms for those.  I know I was given forms HC1 by my pharmacist.  However, I have heard stories about doctors authorizing free prescriptions too.  Not sure exactly how it works, but your doctor or the office staff at the GP should be able to help.


And best of luck with the thyroid condition, my sister had hyper- then radioactive iodine treatment and now has hypo.  I know it can be a real pain of a condition, and am sending you nothing but well wishes!

As far as the prescriptions for free, you may have to file additional forms for those.  I know I was given forms HC1 by my pharmacist.  However, I have heard stories about doctors authorizing free prescriptions too.  Not sure exactly how it works, but your doctor or the office staff at the GP should be able to help.

Sorry, I forgot to mention - you'll need to get an exemption certificate/card in order to claim free prescriptions. You can get the application form from your GP's surgery (in England, it's form FP92A).  Once you have a card/certificate, when you hand in a prescription to a pharmacy, you just need to show the valid exemption card and you'll get your prescription for free.

The HC1 form is just for those people who would normally have to pay for prescriptions, but are entitled to some help with medical costs because they have a low income. For conditions like thyroid problems/diabetes etc. you are entitled to free prescriptions anyway, regardless of your income/job status.

From http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Free-or-Reduced-Cost-Prescriptions.htm:

Who can get an exemption certificate?

People who have certain medical conditions

Although there are many conditions requiring regular medication, only the following qualify for an exemption certificate:

    * Treatment for cancer.
    * A permanent fistula requiring dressing.
    * Forms of hypoadrenalism such as Addison's disease.
    * Diabetes insipidus and other forms of hypopituitarism.
    * Diabetes mellitus except where treatment is by diet alone.
    * Hypoparathyroidism.
    * Myxoedema (underactive thyroid) or other conditions where thyroid hormone replacement is necessary.
    * Myasthenia gravis.
    * Epilepsy requiring continuous anti-convulsive medication.
    * A continuing physical disability which means you cannot go out without help from another person.

If you have one of the specified conditions ask for an application form (FP92A England, HC11B Northern Ireland and EC92A Scotland - clearly marked 1 January 2009) from your doctor's surgery. You need to fill it in and your doctor (or an authorised member of the practice staff) will sign to confirm the information you've given is correct. You will then be sent a Medical Exemption Certificate.

If you have a Medical Exemption Certificate all your prescriptions are free, whatever the medication is for.

Thanks for that KSand!  That was even helpful for me!