Moving back to uk when 18 weeks pregnant...

[barbie1]

...worried I will miss my 20 week scan by the time we relocate and register at a hospital. I had my dd here in Dubai and was fortunate enough to have private care, so have have really no idea of how the nhs operates or how long it will take after registering to get a scan date though.

Has anyone got any advice?

Thank you in advance for a worried expat!

[Iggly]

It'll be through your GP or midwife, not hospital. You could get one privately?

Do you know which GP you'll register with? Might be worth ringing and explaining - they might be able to help you out. I found they were quick doing my 12 week scan - a couple of weeks before hand.

[barbie1]

Thanks, I haven't been registered in the uk for the past 5 years. I can't even remember my doctors address!
We will been in a hotel for about 3 months until our things get shipped across so will have no fixed address.
Should I just call the surgery in the area we wish to live and try to explain? It doesnt help that here in the UAE they will not allow me my medical notes to bring home.
This is proving to be really stressful!

[Iggly]

Yes give them a ring. They'd probably tell you you have to come in person and register which takes little time (fill in a form), then ask for a GP appointment or midwife referral (they'll tell you which one - some let you go direct to your midwife).

Good luck!

[jcgo]

I moved back here from Oz when I was 18 weeks, saw the GP straight away to register, saw midwife the following week and she got me put through as a priorty for a scan which I had at 20+4. Midwife and GP very understanding and really it was no problem. I'm trying to remember what they said about when the 20 week scan could be done until, think it might have been 21+5?

Don't worry about it too much, just go straight in to your GP when you get back and I'm sure they'll be understanding.

[Merinda]

In the worst case scenario you can always do the scan privately and then give the results to your GP/MW once you get a chance to sign up. You can self-refer to a private clinic and they are usually quite flexible in terms of timing.

[EggyAllenPoe]

some areas you can self-refer to hospital maternity services with an online form.

then call up to chase the scan appointment, as they don't always process that fast.