Can I stay with current GP if I moved out of catchement area?

ginvzt

Ok,

I am trying to find an answer to a simple question. We have moved house by a couple of miles, and apparently we are now out of the catchment area for our GP. The distance to GP is not much further (3.2 miles compared with 2.3 miles!!!).

We like our GP a lot - he is the first one of quite a few that we had that listens and actually offers advice and help. (I had some GPs telling me that if ibuprofen doesn't help, nothing else will).

The current address has a 3 surgeries close by, 2 of which do no accept new patients, and a third one I really don't like the area.

So, is there anything we can do to stay with our current GP? Are there any rules that allow patients to stay with their GP even if they move out of catchment area? I can't really find any info online.

jetskidia

I had to move Dr when I moved house:mad:

ginvzt

jetskidia wrote: »

I had to move Dr when I moved house:mad:

It is frustrating and I am trying to find out if there is anything we can do. Besides, we will possibly be buying a house in a while and that would mean that we may need to move GP again (although, we are not looking to move from the general area!!!)

Nicki

It will be down to your own GP as to whether they will keep you on the list. If they do, you will probably have to agree that they do not have to provide home visits for you in any circumstances (even new birth home visits and visits from the health visitor if you have antenatal care via them or have kids under 5) However, they may still de-register you particularly if they have waiting lists.

I sympathise because I had a great GP in inner London where I had been registered for 10 years. We were good patients in that we didn't miss appointments and did all they needed to meet their targets (smears, etc) but when we moved less than a mile down the road, they de-registered us immediately, even though I was mid-diagnosis with a potentially serious condition, which they were well aware was the case.

msb5262

As far as I know, the simple answer to this is NO - you will have to get a new GP. I really wanted to stay with mine when I moved at 28 weeks into my first pregnancy, but it wasn't allowed. Luckily the new practice turned out to be fantastic and I have been impressed with them ever since.
Sorry, I know it's not what you wanted to hear...
MsB

jetskidia

I was told it was down to funding why I had to move

ginvzt

Thanks all. I am not feeling any trust towards the possible new practice, which is in a rough looking area, estate (that is how other GPs refer to them). The second GP has closed the list as there is only one GP remaining, but they are possibly going to reopen it in a few weeks as they are looking to hire a new GP (the old one has unfortunately passed away recently).

Have just found this article from last year:

GP catchment areas to end under NHS plans

Wonder when these plans are going to be put in action....

Torry_Quine

It depends on the GP. I moved to the other side of town and out of my GP catchment area when I got married 22 years ago and was never asked to change and no conditions such as no home visits were made.

Over the years it has never been mentioned and I've had a few home visits without any problem. Four years ago I moved slightly further away again and the receptionist did ask how far away it was and when I said it was only a few minutes further it wasn't a problem.

shays_mum

If you ask nicely you usually can, depends on the GP!

jetskidia

Do you still come under the same hospital, ect?

myrnahaz

The only issue I could see when DS & DIL moved out of our GP's area for 3 years was with house-calls. I told them to stay with our GPs as they were so good, and we just kept him and his wife listed at our address. I made them aware that they'd never be able to have a house call unless I went to collect them (in which case, I'd take them to the surgery if they weren't contagious or anything), and that they'd have to re-register elsewhere if DIL became pregnant. It also meant that I had to collect and deliver any prescriptions they needed.
They've moved back in the right catchment, now, so they're 'legal' again.