De-registering from an NHS doctor

daveboy

I trust this question complies with the rules of the board as I'm not asking for advice on any sort of medical matter, if anything it's the opposite.

I would like to know what the process is if you wanted to de-register from a doctor (as in the surgery, not move from one doctor to another at the same place).

After much consideration I've decided that I no longer wish to be registered with a doctor, and would like to know whether I have a right to do so.

I wouldn't be bothered with things such as previous records being destroyed, it's more the process, whether the law allows me to do so etc, that I'm interested in.

Any help much appreciated.......some people will say I'm mad but I have my reasons which remain private for wanting to do this.

Spendless

You mean you want to know how to register with another surgery or not be registered with a doctor at all? If it's the latter what would you do if you became ill?

Dora_the_Explorer_5

Hope I've understood your question. As far as I know there isn't a 'de-registering' process, the patient just stops seeing the doctor which of course is their right.

For those wishing to register with a new practice: contact the practice you want to register with and ask if you may register with them, you don't have to give a reason, nor do you have to give a reason to your current practice for registering with another one. They can decline to accept you as a patient without giving you a reason.

If someone has difficulty finding a practice to register with they can ask their local Primary Care Trust to find a practice that will accept them. All case notes will be transferred from the old practice to the new one, but this can sometimes take a few weeks. HTH

daveboy

What I was asking is not being registered at all, and any records being erased.

As said at the end of the first post, my reasons remain private.

Spendless

I don't think you can:cool: . For a start if you became ill, was rushed into hospital medical records would be needed. If you disappeared and foul play was suspected and your dead body was later found medical records might be needed to identify you. If you committed a serious crime, medical records may be needed by the police.

daveboy

Well, I haven't been into a hospital in 20 years and won't be while I'm alive.

A tiny aspect of this is ID card related, a very tiny bit. But it is mostly something I want to do for personal reasons.

If I stopped going to an NHS dentist, eventually I'd be struck off their list. Surely there must be something that can be done, by an individual, to be taken off a doctors list?

Methinks a detailed search of some laws will be needed.

I'll leave you to continue to scratch your heads as to why

Spendless

daveboy wrote:

Well, I haven't been into a hospital in 20 years and won't be while I'm alive.

A tiny aspect of this is ID card related, a very tiny bit. But it is mostly something I want to do for personal reasons.

If I stopped going to an NHS dentist, eventually I'd be struck off their list. Surely there must be something that can be done, by an individual, to be taken off a doctors list?

Methinks a detailed search of some laws will be needed.

I'll leave you to continue to scratch your heads as to why

You could be in an accident this week and rushed off to hospital unconscious;) with your name and address on your person - so they'd know who you were:p
The nhs dentist can stop seeing you after so long (or used to be able to do so) if you don't turn up but I don't know that doctors work like this. AFAIK you can turn up at the surgery as an old man having never been there since you were a kid. Also though the dentists might not see you destroying records is a seperate issue. I'm quite sure that isn't possible. I don't know what they do when someone dies though, if they leave it so long before the records are destroyed.

Toothsmith

Just remember that not only is your medical record about YOU, it is also about what a DOCTOR has done to you.

Should you ever decide to sue for something that has happened to you in the past, your medical records will also be a key part of any doctors defence.

Therefore, it is not only your interest tied up in these notes. They are the property of the NHS. Although you have rights of access, you do not have ownership.

frostyspice

You can probably tell your GP that you no longer wish to be registered with him/her.

The records will be returned to the local health authority. They are the property of the State - that is, the Department of Health (or whatever it's calling itself at the moment), not the GP and not you.

silvercar

Upon registering a birth an NHS card and number are issued. From that point onwards you have an NHS record. Your parents then use that NHS card to register you with a doctor. There must be people who are never registered with an NHS doctor but they would still have that initial NHS registration, as registering a birth is compulsary.