UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

Hi
Our son has KC and had CXL in both eyes 9 months ago. He recently received the letter for his first NHS clinic appointment which is next month (he was previously seen privately and has been referred to the same specialist's NHS clinic).

If he was to move away from home later in the year to another area of the UK can he continue being seen at the same NHS hospital or does he have to change to where he moves to?

He gets on really well with the current consultant and would like to continue seeing the same guy. Potentially he could be moving within the UK several times over the next few years and we would prefer some continuity even if it means he has to travel back home for his hospital appointments.

I've tried looking online but haven't found a definite answer
Thanks,
Clare

Hi Clare,
Quite a few of our members have continued with their previous hospital after moving. So I don't think there's anything to stop your son staying with his current hospital if he doesn't mind the travelling (and you might get to see him more often too!)

Thanks Anne
We didn't know whether having to register at a new GP would force him to move NHS eye clinic so that's good to know - and yes we might get to see more of him that way too!

If any other members have first hand experience of moving away from their NHS outpatient eye clinic but still going there for appointments despite changing their GP registration to a new region that would be appreciated! Thanks

I’ve had to go though this myself after moving house.

You register with a new GP and ask them for a new referral, if you have any letters from your current hospital you can give your GP it’ll help speed things up. I got my first appointment after 3/4 months of my new referral.

As for your existing hospital, you can still continue to see them. They’ll only stop your appointments when you tell them to discharge you. I’ve still kept my appointment with my old hospital, just in case the new referral gets delayed for whatever reason, and I’d like to see how good they are.

Thanks for your reply Mas-tech.
Good to know that our son shouldn't get discharged from his current out-patient clinic when he moves next month. He's moving away for uni for a year and not sure where he'll end up after that so some continuity until he knows where he'll be living in the longer term would be good.
With moving from NZ to UK this last year this is his third eye clinic and we've already been told it's difficult to make comparisons with scans from other clinics