Transferring Hospitals

[longmover]

Is this process easy? I'm preparing myself for plenty of time on the phone and hoping my notes dont get lost in the post.

Is there anything that I can do to ease this process? or am I in the lap of the NHS gods......?

[longhoc]

Hi longmover

Well, my experience suggests you are indeed in the lap of the NHS Gods, and they can sometimes be a bit capricious ! When I transferred between NHS eye units, it was like I was starting from scratch. They could phone through to get my previous contact lens prescription and lens type, so that was a good thing. But notes, scans and what you'd probably call "history", well, that got left behind. I saw my file at the "new" eye unit, it contained absolutely nothing from the "old" hospital.

If I ever have to move eye units again, I'd seriously consider asking for my entire file and literally take it with me to my first appointment at the new hospital. Not sure how they'd react, but I don't think they can refuse as it is, after all, my file.

Hopefully it was just me getting my usual short straw and others will be along to say how it all worked seamlessly for them !

Best wishes

Chris

[longmover]

Thanks for the reply Longhoc

I was thinking of a least getting a copy of my history file just in case it gets lost and your right how can they refuse this? though tbh I'd prefer the new hospital to start from scratch anyway my current notes from local NHS are probably no help to them at all. Also I think they'll be glad to see the back of all KC patients on their current performance.

thanks again

[jay87]

I usually see a different optom each time I have an appointment anyway, and they seem to get more information from speaking to me than from the often unhelpful or obscure notes! I suppose you are entitled to your data under the data protection act etc