Daily Medication on long term tours/expeditions

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

It's worth noting that, if any post sent to your present address is returned 'gone away' or 'not known' etc the HA (or whoever is running primary care by that stage) is notified* and you will be automatically removed from your GP's list. It's worth making sure you have made arrangements to redirect post for this reason alone if you intend to continue with your current GP somehow.

* I've never known how

thanks for that advise - probably a good idea.
We'll ensure that there is several years of redirect done simply becuase we have been here for 13/14 years now and remembering everything that needs redirecting (e.g. pensions and the likes) could be somewhat interesting. Count down is now 3.5 months before we leave.

 

[Brains]

If you are renting privatly it may be worth your while having a word with your landlord.
For a small consideration (enough to make it worth his while, so £100 a year or something) he may be perfectly happy to keep you as 'official' tennants, so that you are still registered at the address and he passes on any post for you.

If he was really nice, you could even have a tenancy agreement that says the cupboard under the stairs is your home, which when you get back to the UK will look a lot better on credit card applications etc. as you will have had the same home for a number of years.

 

[Arch]

This isn't helpful, just an observation. I'm finding it a bit depressing reading that hospitals or doctors 'aren't happy' about people travelling. I'm thinking a) what's it got to do with them and b) what would they rather have, someone apparently under control, confined to home, or someone taking a bit of a risk, but having the experience of a lifetime? What's the point in looking after people medically, if they're going to be confined to an unadventurous lifestyle for ever....

So I wish you all the best, I'm sure there's a way round whatever you want to do - just do it!

 

[andym]

<br>It's worth noting that, if any post sent to your present address is returned 'gone away' or 'not known' etc the HA (or whoever is running primary care by that stage) is notified* and you will be automatically removed from your GP's list. It's worth making sure you have made arrangements to redirect post for this reason alone if you intend to continue with your current GP somehow.<br><br>* I've never known how

<br><br><br>I'm not sure how either. Are you sure this isn't an urban myth? If it was a letter from the PCT or the doctor themselves then maybe, but they've never ever written to me. And in any event they have no way of knowing that you haven't simply moved somewhere else within the area and forgotten to notify the change of address (which must happen all the time). So I think they'd be on very very dodgy ground if they struck someone of the doctor's list on these grounds alone. <br><br>I very much doubt that utilities/banks/credit card companies/junk mailers will be willing or able to notify your doctor if post is returned to them. <br><br>

<br>This isn't helpful, just an observation. I'm finding it a bit depressing reading that hospitals or doctors 'aren't happy' about people travelling.&nbsp;&nbsp;I'm thinking a) what's it got to do with them and b) what would they rather have, someone apparently under control, confined to home, or someone taking a bit of a risk, but having the experience of a lifetime?&nbsp;&nbsp;What's the point in looking after people medically, if they're going to be confined to an unadventurous lifestyle for ever....

<br><br>In fairness, by 'not being happy' I meant not turning cartwheels, but still accepting my decision - and in effect supporting and assisting me. My immune system is still recovering from the transplant, so I can understand them feeling the responsibility to counsel me about risks, so I can take an informed decision. And, having worked to (literally) save my life i think they have a right to express an opinion - and I owe it to them to listen and take what they say seriously.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>Before the transplant, I told the same registrar that I wanted to go to the edinburgh festival. This was half-way through 6 months of chemotherapy so he did rightly say that he didn't think it was a good idea, but then gave me some antibiotics to take if I did start to feel unwell, together with a letter to take to give to the hospital just in case.<br><br><br>I think most doctors understand that people can't live wrapped up in cotton wool - so their job is to help people with a health condition to live a balanced and fulfilling life, and make informed decisions about how to look after themselves.

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[slugonabike]

I work in a GP surgery, we often get 'green cards' sent to us by the HA. If we have not had contact with the patient and are unable to verify the address within a certain time, the patient is automatically removed. They have to re-register if/when they do turn up, even if they have actually never been away. I'm not on the clerical side, so I don't know how the HA get to hear about this, but I can assure you that it does happen regularly. I'm guessing it is to try and prevent GPs from receiving fees for patients who are no longer in the area.

 

[andym]

I work in a GP surgery, we often get 'green cards' sent to us by the HA. If we have not had contact with the patient and are unable to verify the address within a certain time, the patient is automatically removed. They have to re-register if/when they do turn up, even if they have actually never been away. I'm not on the clerical side, so I don't know how the HA get to hear about this, but I can assure you that it does happen regularly. I'm guessing it is to try and prevent GPs from receiving fees for patients who are no longer in the area.

Yikes. Sorry I doubted you.

 

[slugonabike]

Yikes. Sorry I doubted you.

No problem