Being FORCED to change doctors - please help!!!

[mrp21]

Hi,
I'm not sure if there are any doctors out there or people that have had experience of this and can help - but please somebody help!!!

I've recently moved out of my parents home who live in the same area as my new home but when I went to give my change of address at the doctors surgery I was told I now live out of their border of cover! I was gob-smacked! I've been going to that surgery for the past 15 years!

But the point is that I still live within the same area and within a few minutes of the surgery.

Is there any legal clause that anyone knows of to state that I have a right as a UK tax payer to get treatment at which ever surgery I wish?

Any help in this matter will greatly be received!! Thanks in advance

[Soubrette]

Hi,
I'm not sure if there are any doctors out there or people that have had experience of this and can help - but please somebody help!!!

I've recently moved out of my parents home who live in the same area as my new home but when I went to give my change of address at the doctors surgery I was told I now live out of their border of cover! I was gob-smacked! I've been going to that surgery for the past 15 years!

But the point is that I still live within the same area and within a few minutes of the surgery.

Is there any legal clause that anyone knows of to state that I have a right as a UK tax payer to get treatment at which ever surgery I wish?

Any help in this matter will greatly be received!! Thanks in advance

A GP can refuse to register you if you live outside their area - their area may not be the same as the geographical area you live in. They do not keep people on their books who are outside area as they have to commit to out of hours cover and most will not offer this unless you are in their surgery area.

If you feel that you have been de-registered for another, discriminatory reason then you could appeal to your local PCT and see if they can help. Phone your surgery and ask to speak to the Practice Manager - they should be able to give you your PCT address if you do not already know it.

Sorry it's not better news.

Sou

[LondonDiva]

No.

~You have the right to be registered with a GP.

~You have the right to exsercise your choice to register with a GP with a catchment area that covers your address.

Catchment areas are about Out of Hours cover; Home visits; links with other teams (ie schools, District nursing & social services) etc etc.

If a patient doesn't tell the practice of the new address & they learn of it another way (through letters coming back or not answered, a consultant or demand for a home visit) they can deregister then and there and refuse to visit.

[mr_rush]

the solution is to leave your permanent address as your parents address.

[Penny-Pincher!!]

Keep registered at your folks place.

PP
xx

[JoeyEmma]

If you keep your address as your parents house and become ill and need a home visit, your GP will not come out to you. It can also add to problems if you need any further services, such as health visiting, district nursing etc. As a community nurse myself,. it makes my job a lot more complicated when people register with addresses that aren't really theirs.

[alison999]

your address would b wrong on all your perscriptions, im not sure if youd b commiting fraud or not when you hand in a signed perscription. when you sign it, isnt there a bit that says you declare all the information on the form is correct etc?

[LondonDiva]

the solution is to leave your permanent address as your parents address.

Keep registered at your folks place.

PP xx .

As you've told the practice you are moving, they could justify refusing because they think you are lying. They could later ask you for proof & if they find out from a neighbour or anyone else, you'd be kicked off the list sharpish.

It does happen - a lady was in the middle of cancer treatment when she ws removed from the GP's list with immediate effect. The reason? The practice had her mum's address & then the consultant sent the GP copies of letters to the patient. The practice removed her sharpish.

A guy has an accident & is discharged from hospital. The hospital & GP spend ages arranging district nursing & social care etc - turns out he moved to another borough a couple of years ago and didn't want to move GPs. Was a massive headache to find him a new GP who then had to run around trying to sort things out while the patient screamed bl00dy murder.

[tinker15]

I too had to change Doctors which was awful as I had a fantastic Doctor. There is a light at the end of the tunnel though as I was fortunate to be introduced to another really nice Doctor at the new surgery.

[Paul Varjak]

Even if you live within the catchment area of a doctor's surgery, a doctor has a right to say they do not want you as a patient. They don't even have to give a reason why.