Apparently the NHS trust at Medway Maritime Hospital where he operates is not going to fund his practice there from some time in the not-too-distant future, so he is hoping to re-home at another NHS hospital.
i got the impression all this is happening in the next few months.
He will continue his private practice as normal while he tries to find a new NHS home.
(for our non-UK friends, NHS = National Health Service = taxpayer funded free healthcare)
I will check in separately to update my treatment diary - itās been a while. but, in short, slow, steady improvements with a few ups and downs.
No oooo. I just saw DrS at Medway last week too for my first NHS appointment (saw him privately 2 months ago) and he never mentioned it. I thought Iād finally found someone who would stick with me. I suppose I better start saving to see him privately and hope he sticks around the SE. Surprised that Medway who get such appalling inspection results would want to jettison a centre of excellence.
Oh dear that is very worryingā¦come to think of it when I saw him in September he reiterated a couple of times that when I go back in June 2019, I may not see him, he mentioned it may be another neurological specialist!! I thought he was just being cautious?
Thatās certainly going to be a blow cos Dr S seems about top of the tree in UK when it comes to MAV treatment. Consultants with his experience here seem to be like hens teeth. Hope he can relocate to another NHS location. Too much to imagine he might just move somewhere a bit more central where more people could reach him I suppose. To lose him from the NHS would be body blow. Must admit thinking how dependent MAVers may be to him, hope heās got some apprentices somewhere after all I guess one day heāll retire. Nobody goes on for ever.
Trouble is NHS is so strapped for cash. Last month I collected repeat prescription to find some 90%of my pills allocation and an IOU! This month Iāve today been given full quota but completely different brand which I may not be able to take because I have previously exp. severe GERD as a result of the different pill coatings brand to brand. So bad this was the GP had to specify one brand only on the prescription and this month Iāve got another brand anyway! Donāt know how far the NHS can go on cutting back before it becomes totally ineffective for some conditions. Helen
Hi all
Just found this thread. I had an appointment with Dr S at Medway yesterday and he didnāt mention that his clinic was closing - mind you I was in and out in about 4 minutes without much time to ask all the questions I wanted . I am tempted to go and see him again as a private patient just so I have time to have a proper conversation . It took me longer to find a parking space! I was given another appointment in September 2019 so maybe the clinic isnāt closing yet? Fingers crossed, but if not I shall opt to go private I think.
I had some vague recollection on those lines too but only last evening on local TV there was a private consultant saying heād ādone over 2 years in the NHSā, very much past tense. From context Iād say he only sees private patients now. So donāt know the answer really. Helen
Iām new here, and Iām struggling so badly at the moment. Iāve been Dr Surethiranās patient since 2013 when I was at the lowest point. Iāve been having bad relapses since last year and Iām not coping very well. My partner is not very supportive and not showing sympathy which makes me feel even 100 times worse. The only person I rely on to is Dr Surenthiran and is clinic might be closing!!! Who do I turn to
Sorry to hearing you are struggling. Not familiar with your story. Suspect you havenāt āintroducedā yourself fully yet maybe. MAV tends to be long and rather tortuous road. Have a read of my story as an example if you must, but things do improve eventually though often it doesnāt seem so at the moment. I wouldnāt worry about Dr Sās clinic closing, the NHS will have to offer patients an alternative, and besides has it even been confirmed as true yet anyway. It may never happen. Providing youāve got a diagnosis, failing all else, with all the info on the internet, and support from fellow sufferers on mvertigo.org you can get through this on your own, if you have to. Thatās what Iāve been doing for years, all Iāve ever had are two one off neurologist consultations about MAV that were of assistance to me. Before that Iād seen couple of ENT, done 6 months VRT, and originally because of comorbid condition seen two or three eye specialists - none of whom were any help at all. Itās most helpful with MAV to have supportive partner so thatās something to work on. Get him involved, reading about MAV. As we look so healthy, it being Invisible Illness mostly, others cannot comprehend it often. You need to find something in it your partner can relate to then heāll realise what you are going through. If you continue to join in the forum conversation youāll find plenty of support here from people who understand and to who you wouldnāt have to explain yourself. Weāve all been there. Helen
itās all about the funding. maybe Medway decided they didnāt want to lose him. or maybe he has found a new home for his NHS practice. time will tell.
Dr. S has told me that his NHS clinic in Medway is closing in March and that he is looking for a new home for his team and that his NHS patients would be transferred to the new place so not to worry. My next review is in June so Iāll not have an appointment or destination until things are settled.
I do hope he finds somewhere new. March seems a tight deadline, but perhaps there are prospects in view. I wanted to ask if there was anything patients could do to help/lobby on his behalf but it was a rushed phone call appointment with this info popped in right at the end.
Write to their Member of Parliament about the only option, or the relevant area Health Authority for the clinicās current location, or both but I suspect itās already fait accompli. Helen
Oh dear that is a great shame. I was hoping that as he didnāt say anything about it to me when I went in October he wasnāt being moved out! Fingers crossed it is somewhere local!
