can I leave gp surgery to qualify to register at different one?

catalina66

Hi :-)

I've tried for over 1.5 years with current gp surgery, with serious problems which aren't being addressed. Surgery is too busy, and when you get to see someone they're not really interested, even if I mention things. Not proper care. Have tried by seeing different doctors in the surgery, but am utterly fed up of being treated like the few minutes I need to take up is too much for them, and no action or concern. Some pain relief looked into, but told to just get on with it re frozen hand (ulnar), not referred for nerve tests or for a support etc, no interest in how mental health situation going, no new x-rays for arthritis despite it being many years since any done. Had to argue with one doctor to get vital second opinion after disastrous referral/misdiagnosed. Can't deal with this any more.

Researched online and saw a practice with good reviews, which is actually easier to get to also (mobility problems). Went there today, and, although they're accepting new patients, they can't accept me due to me being registered at the other surgery already. I asked them if I left the other surgery, could I then register with them. They didn't know. I can't find any information online, so would really welcome advice.

Thanks, Cat

Browntoa

Friends just changed doctors down here just by filling in a new patient form at the other surgery

Browntoa

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1095.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=158

pinkteapot

This page is more specifically relevant:

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1088.aspx?CategoryID=68&SubCategoryID=158

catalina66

Thanks for responses :-) Sorry if I didn't explain properly, but the new GP surgery that I want to register at is in the same catchment area, except nearer, and much better reviews ... the new GP surgery said they can't take me on at the moment, because of me already being registered with a GP in the same catchment area. They said they were uncertain if I would be able to register with them, if I left the previous GP surgery. I don't want to call up the previous GP surgery and formally leave, if I can't sign up with the new one, so am a bit nervous. My thinking is that if I make myself officially without a GP, then the new GP surgery would take me on, but just need to be sure.

JimmyTheWig

It's not an NHS rule that you can't change surgeries within the same catchment area.
Might be a rule that the surgeries have in your area.
In which case I'd speak to the Practice Manager of the one you want to join and see what they say.

catalina66

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

It's not an NHS rule that you can't change surgeries within the same catchment area.
Might be a rule that the surgeries have in your area.
In which case I'd speak to the Practice Manager of the one you want to join and see what they say.

Thanks JimmyTheWig. I'm in Middlesbrough, so it may be that they have this different rule, yes. I'm not sure if the receptionist of the new surgery went to speak to the PM, as she was gone quite a while, but I'll definitely follow that up. And just realised I should call current GP to ask them if I can register freely elsewhere via formally leaving. Was wanting to avoid a complaint, by just going elsewhere and not more contact/potential hassle, but it might be wise to check directly.

[Deleted User]

catalina66 wrote: »

Hi :-)

I've tried for over 1.5 years with current gp surgery, with serious problems which aren't being addressed. Surgery is too busy, and when you get to see someone they're not really interested, even if I mention things. Not proper care. Have tried by seeing different doctors in the surgery, but am utterly fed up of being treated like the few minutes I need to take up is too much for them, and no action or concern. Some pain relief looked into, but told to just get on with it re frozen hand (ulnar), not referred for nerve tests or for a support etc, no interest in how mental health situation going, no new x-rays for arthritis despite it being many years since any done. Had to argue with one doctor to get vital second opinion after disastrous referral/misdiagnosed. Can't deal with this any more.

If you can find a doctor who's not like that let me know.

although they're accepting new patients, they can't accept me due to me being registered at the other surgery already.

That's what happened to me: "We don't poach other doctors patients".

I called the health authority and they told me that you have a right to change GPs, but you can't choose who you go to. You have to fill in a request form and then you're allocated to whoever has space on their list.

catalina66

Present surgery has said there's no nhs rules to block a patient going to another surgery in the catchment area. They said they've never heard a gp surgery say what I've reported to them, about that I can't join due to already having a gp surgery in the catchment area. Were very surprised. They recommended calling the new surgery again, and confirmed there is no formal leaving process needed.

I called the new surgery again, and the lady changed her story from earlier (can't take you on as already have a gp in catchment area) to that it's a very popular centre and full up (someone was registering beside me earlier), that they're only taking people coming in from out of the area. She'd said earlier that they were accepting people, and she got quite 'off' with me when I said that. I asked her what does someone do when there are problems regarding present surgery and really need to be somewhere better. No real response.

Disheartening as it's difficult to find reviews of surgeries, their surgery had a very good review, but really blocked by the reception. And doesn't matter if having a bad experience and have some serious conditions, is clear. Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned about serious conditions, as their budget may not have liked hearing that, but I'm not someone who goes on about issues/abuses the system, far from it.

catalina66

jack_pott wrote: »

If you can find a doctor who's not like that let me know.

That's what happened to me: "We don't poach other doctors patients".

I called the health authority and they told me that you have a right to change GPs, but you can't choose who you go to. You have to fill in a request form and then you're allocated to whoever has space on their list.

Yes, just happened upon a massive amount of comments, via a news article, that mirror bad experiences. It's dire. And it can be out of the frying pan into the fire if they just allocate randomly; I'd been trying to go on good reviews, but the potential new surgery really are being awkward. Thanks for confirming about right to change.

[Deleted User]

catalina66 wrote: »

I called the new surgery again, and the lady changed her story from earlier (can't take you on as already have a gp in catchment area) to that it's a very popular centre and full up (someone was registering beside me earlier), that they're only taking people coming in from out of the area. She'd said earlier that they were accepting people, and she got quite 'off' with me when I said that. I asked her what does someone do when there are problems regarding present surgery and really need to be somewhere better. No real response.

Yes, they started off telling me that there was room on the register too, and then changed their tune once they saw that my current surgery was another in the town.

Disheartening as it's difficult to find reviews of surgeries

See here. Scroll down to "Download the full data" at the bottom. (Explanatory notes are nearer the top, on the right.)