I sometimes read other arthritis forums and I've read something that I think we should be aware of.

A lady wrote that she had not had a letter from her GP about her flu jab, so she phoned them asking why. This lady does not have RA but PA and she also got asthma. She was told that because over the last three months she hasn't asked for her reliever and preventative she is no longer classed asthmatic, (new PCT guidelines), hence no letter. She pointed out to them that she was taking MTX and humira, supplied by her hospital. Turns out that because she is supplied these drugs via the hospital and not her GP she is not listed as being immune suppressed. They will not put the MTX or humiria on her notes, because, as she was told, it was not their concern. She's made an appointment and is to take in her empty syringes (physical evidence) to prove that she is taking these drugs in order for her to get her flu jab.

Now you maybe thinking that this is just a one off situation, but further down the thread someone else said that had to convince their GP that they were taking Cimiza, the GP could find no record of it on their notes, again this was prescribed by the hospital.

So I think that all of us who are having drugs via the hospital should check that it is recorded at our GP's. We could end up one day being prescribed something that is dangerous when taking our RA drugs.

Paula x

Hi Paula

That is ridiculous! Of course it is the concern of the GP. He/she is the one that has to know everything about you medically so that if you need to be treated for something they can immediately see from your records what medicines you are already on. It would be very dangerous if a GP prescribed something that could cause toxicity with other drugs. My GP surgery is very good. They have everything in their files. In fact it is the Rheumatology dept that is the problem, they never send my blood results and GP always ringing me for copies of my monitoring book. It's a good job we are on the ball. Heaven knows what would happen to us if we left it to the professionals!

Sheila x

i too am lucky my surgery is on the ball with me and if in doubt they phone who needs to be phoned, my kids are asthmatic but havent used inhalors for a few years but when being prescrbide any meds its still taken into account, lack of communication somewhere along the lines.