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

catalina66

jack_pott wrote: »

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.



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

Thanks jack_pott :-) Yes, surreal how they change parameters; can only think it must be budget-related. Thanks about link too. :-)

[Deleted User]

My surgery tells you that staff are on holiday when they don't want to make an appointment, too. I've caught them lying on more than one occasion.

catalina66

jack_pott wrote: »

My surgery tells you that staff are on holiday when they don't want to make an appointment, too. I've caught them lying on more than one occasion.

That's dreadful. Making surgeries budget-orientated instead of caring, and honest!, really was a mistake. Being lied to like that is hardly reassuring, and it's vital to know there's a reliable gp surgery there on your side, wherever those are. You'd think they'd have the humanity to relate to that people need that, but it comes down to people being in it for money or a vocation; big difference.

faerielight

I'm in the same boat with a terrible gp surgery. I want to change too, but I keep putting it off as I don't want to make a complaint to them, I just want to leave!

funguy

catalina66 wrote: »

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.

Some surgeries have a rule that they will not accept patients who wish to transfer from another patient in the same catchment area. This is because they are usually newer surgeries which are opened or increased in capacity to collect new people moving into the area. This is a reflection of the severe under investment in GP surgeries nationwide and where the capacity for new patients is very limited in most surgeries.

You would need to register at a practice in another catchment area and then move to the new one.

funguy

catalina66 wrote: »

That's dreadful. Making surgeries budget-orientated instead of caring, and honest!, really was a mistake. Being lied to like that is hardly reassuring, and it's vital to know there's a reliable gp surgery there on your side, wherever those are. You'd think they'd have the humanity to relate to that people need that, but it comes down to people being in it for money or a vocation; big difference.

This is exactly why the UK GP system is soo cost efficient - 90% of all NHS contacts for only 8% of the cost. The government encourage the "small business" model and are keen to retain it as it costs them the least possible. We, the UK taxpeyers should be asking for all GPs to be salaried to the NHS just like hospital doctors so they can concentrate on seeing and treating patients rather than running a business!

However like most salaried/employed people, the working contract is 40 hours a week but with a lot of doctors working up to 70-80 hours a week, they would need twice as many GPs if they were to make them salaried!

Pennylane

A couple of years ago there was a lot in the news about changes which were supposed to be taking place. It was intended that patients could register at whatever GP surgery they liked .... Maybe somewhere close to their workplace, just as we do with dentists. I thought it was a brilliant idea but it has obviously fallen by the wayside.

We have no choice here ...there's just one practice in our catchment area and we'd love to change to one just a few miles further away but we can't as we're not in their catchment area.

Anoneemoose

Hi,

I am the same OP. I have been struggling for years with what I call a 'Jekyll and Hyde' situation with my GP. Sometimes he can be great and listen and suggest things, and other times, I feel like an utter burden. I have numerous issues, including Fibromyalgia, painful adult acne, IBS and a form of OCD - oh and at the moment I am having to take ferritin and vitamin d due to deficiencies.

I absolutely hate the fact that I have all these things wrong with me because I feel like I am hardly ever out of the place (usually an appt every month or 2) and I honestly feel like I am asking for something out of this world. I was so fed up of the treatment I had received recently, that I wrote a huge letter addressed to my doctor to explain how he sometimes made me feel like a nuisance (I put it politely). I also explained how my ailments affected my every day life and that this time 10 years ago, I was fit, healthy and full of life and would give anything to be like that again. So, I asked for his assistance, support and expertise in finding solutions to my problems.

He called me in for an appt after receiving the letter and I took my sister with me. He was much more accommodating then! Maybe you could try that approach.

Also, I am very close to you (next town) and we have exactly the same policy with moving surgeries. It's awful really what we have to put up with.

catalina66

faerielight wrote: »

I'm in the same boat with a terrible gp surgery. I want to change too, but I keep putting it off as I don't want to make a complaint to them, I just want to leave!

Yes, can totally understand. And the hassle of complaints feels like too much, when you're already stressed about something that shouldn't be so stressful in the first place; ironic how nhs/gp surgeries are increasing stress and ill health all the time! Hope things work out better. Sometimes it is worth making a complaint, but you have to be sure about making that journey. I had to complain years ago, about the local hospital, and about a counselling organisation ... won both, but had been very certain about having a clear case beforehand, that couldn't be argued over.

catalina66

funguy wrote: »

Some surgeries have a rule that they will not accept patients who wish to transfer from another patient in the same catchment area. This is because they are usually newer surgeries which are opened or increased in capacity to collect new people moving into the area. This is a reflection of the severe under investment in GP surgeries nationwide and where the capacity for new patients is very limited in most surgeries.

You would need to register at a practice in another catchment area and then move to the new one.

Thank you; great idea! And that makes a lot of sense, funguy. So much I could say in agreeing about the severe under investment going on nationwide. Something has to change in a big way and asap, as everyone's just being left undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, far more ill/stressed, and it just isn't fair. Bad organisation and attitudes, for sure.