Continuing meds after moving/urgent, running out of meds!

I had surgery to remove my thyroid gland about 2 years ago due to tumors, and as a result, I need to take thyroid medication on a daily basis for the rest of my life. My issue is, I came here with about 8ish weeks worth of meds, and I now have 7 days worth left and I haven't registered with a GP yet (my fault, I ran out sooner than I expected).

I'm sure it varies with each surgery but does anyone know if they will give me a new prescription for this medication simply by me telling them I take it (once I am given an appointment of course). I don't have a prescription bottle from the US because I always got samples from my doctor, so they never wrote one- it is in my medical record, but I'm not sure they will email it to me, and mail will take too long. It isn't a medication that can be used recreationally, so I don't think that would be a concern. Since I have no thyroid at all, not having meds for more than a couple of days will make me very ill, and I don't want to have to go through that obviously.

My husband is no use on this because he's one of those who never goes to the doctor and doesn't really have a need to.

Has anyone needed continuous medication soon after arriving and on short notice? Was it easy or were you given a hard time? Thanks!

I had a similar situation here on a visitor's visa.  We had done some inquiring before I arrived, but the doctor's surgery was very helpful and has continued to be helpful in getting my prescriptions refilled.  I did have to see a doctor, but only to discuss my medications and why I was taking it.  It was a consultation only and they were great about getting me seen in time to refill.  All in all, a very easy process after I spent a great deal of time worrying about it - not having my medication would not have been pretty! 

Call right away as soon as they are open tomorrow and hopefully they'll get you seen in time.  Hopefully your prior doctor's contact information will be adequate since you don't have your prescriptions.  Let them make the inquiry of your previous doctor if they need to do so - although I'm not sure if that's how it works here in the UK.

Good luck!  My only issue was getting them to bill me for their services! 

Hopefully the same medication will be available from the NHS. Don't put this off another minute.

I had a common Rx, but I had a prescription bottle, so there were no issues. As you have been using the meds via samples, the process may take longer, but hopefully not.

I had an easy time when went to the GP last week for a refill. We discussed what I take, how long I've been taking it and why, and I received a prescription for the UK equivalent. It was a lot easier than I'd imagined, and I didn't have the pill foils or packets either.

Thanks to all of you for easing my mind! I am just very unsure what to expect from the medical system here, and I had a very good relationship with my GP in New York. Glad to hear that I likely won't have to run out of meds!

As for the medication, it's been around for ages and it's the standard prescribed for thyroid patients, so from what I can tell, they do have it here. thanks for the heads up though. 

I moved here six years ago.  After registering with my GP, I simply told him what medications I had been taking in the US.  One of them was for my thyroid.  I got a prescription right then and there. I am sure you will too.  Not only that, but having a thyroid condition entitles you to free prescriptions.  Your GP should fill out the form for a medical exemption card.  You may have to pay for your first prescription.  I seem to remember it took a week or so for my exemption card to arrive.  And it's not just your thyroid meds you will get free, it's all meds.

I'm hoping someone can help me. I've recently moved over here with my 3 kids, my 2 daughter's who are from a previous marriage and my son who belongs to my UK hubby. My 3 daughters and I are on a spousal visa and dependent visas. All 3 of our passports are stamped No recourse to public funds. We were just told by the GP that we cannot get registered or treated there without having to pay due to that stamp on our visas. Is this correct? The GP won't even treat our dual citizen son!! She said she has to check with records or something like that.
I'm really confused.

They are very confused! Print this out and show them the part where it says that you are allowed NHS care: http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/1087.aspx?categoryid=68&subcategoryid=162. And if that doesn't work complain to your local PALS office: http://www.nhs.uk/service-search/patient-advice-and-liaison-services-(pals)/locationsearch/363.

I really sympathize, it must be very frustrating for you and it shouldn't be difficult for GP surgeries to have the correct information.

Thank you Fruitgum. I found another thread where KSand24 gave me the same link so I rang them and the secretary said that she was given this information by the registration office. I can tell I'm going to have a hard time of it. I may just try and find a different office but they've already seen one daughter to dispense antibiotics for a bug she caught on the plane.
The secretary said that the NHS was public funds! I'm trying to find out what it is exactly so I have a leg to stand on.

Definitely complain to PALS, they should be able to sort out the problem.

The secretary said that the NHS was public funds! I'm trying to find out what it is exactly so I have a leg to stand on.

I'm not sure what you mean by asking 'what it is'.  The NHS is a health care system.  NHS treatment is not considered public funds.  It is explicitly stated on page 8 of this document titled "Public Funds" from the Home Office.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/284160/Public_funds_v12_0EXT.pdf

National Health Service (NHS) treatment and local education authority (LEA) schooling are not considered to be public funds.

And on page 10:

NHS treatment does not count as public funds for the purposes of the Immigration Rules whether it is paid or unpaid.

THank you Geeta! That is what my mother in law and I found.
I guess I was trying to figure out what NHS was because the secretary at the GP office tried saying it was public funds and since my spousal visa says "No recourse to public funds" they were using that as an excuse to not register me.

I will ring in the morning and find out who I can speak to and if I can't then I will contact PALS.

I guess I was trying to figure out what NHS was because the secretary at the GP office tried saying it was public funds and since my spousal visa says "No recourse to public funds" they were using that as an excuse to not register me.

Yeah, trying to say that NHS is public funds is a load of rubbish - I think that's possibly the first time I've heard a surgery try to use that as an excuse... because NHS is absolutely, definitely not considered public funds for immigration purposes.

Due to certain rules in place for EEA citizens getting treatment in the UK, usually surgeries will try to convince you that you aren't entitled to treatment until you have been in the UK for 6 months... which isn't true either - you are entitled from the day you arrive.

Free NHS treatment is allowed on pretty much all visas that are valid for more than 6 months - including student visas, work visas, and fiance, spousal and child dependent visas - yet every single one of those visas says 'No Recourse to Public Funds'. 

The only visas that do not allow free NHS treatment are visitor visas and any visa valid for less than 6 months (i.e. a short-course student visa)... so you would only have to pay if you were in the UK on a visitor visa.

From the link that Fruitgum posted above (http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/1087.aspx?categoryid=68&subcategoryid=162.):

NHS hospital treatment in England

If you move to the UK, you will not be charged for NHS hospital treatment from the date that you arrive as long as:

-    you intend to live permanently in the UK, and
-    you have the right to live permanently in the UK or have a "route to settlement" that will allow permanent residence in due course

And

Registering with a GP

Under current rules anyone can register with a GP practice in England and receive free primary care. A GP practice can only refuse an application to join its list of NHS patients where it has reasonable grounds for doing so: for example, if their lists are closed to new patients, the applicant lives in a different practice's boundary area, or in other rare circumstances.