Doctors, after moving house

GibbsRule_No3

I would really like to stay with my current doctor now I have moved home, especially as it is near my place of work. Can I request to stay and under what criteria would I be made to move? I very seldom visit the doctor ( touch wood!) and would be happy to sign something saying I would not expect a home visit, it is only a 3.16 mile move.

G_M

GPs still have designated catchmnt areas.

there was a move recently to remove this, but it was deferred.

A GP of course has discretion, and if he is willing to keep you on his list (eg if you are a long-standing patient), he can, though

a) you'll need to agree this with your GP - his reception staff will just say "sorry you're no longer in the area" and
b) you're unlikely to get home visits, either by the GP, or district nurses etc.

Rollinghills

Do you have to tell them you've moved?

FBaby

They might, they might not. It very much depends on the catchment area and how flexible the practice is likely to be. I wanted to stay with my GP when I moved. He was fine with it because he knew me and children well and knew I wouldn't ask for a home visit. However, the pratice wouldn't have it.

FBaby

Just to add, do tell them you moved. I didn't and thought it would be ok as I had my mail redirected. However, my DD was once referred for physio, and they tried to call me to arrange an appointment. They called my landline (old) instead of my mobile number so never got hold of me and discharged her. We didn't find out until weeks later assuming there was long waiting times. We had to start all from scratch 3 months later.

This is when I decided that it was better to register with a new GP.

rosie383

Definitely you need to tell them. Otherwise you will miss out on routine screening letters if those apply. Your address will also be on prescriptions etc so it could cause problems if the pharmacist needs to contact you for some odd reason.
I do know families who have moved across town and kept with the same practice. I think it will depend on how busy the practice is too. If they have room on their books they may well be happy to keep you.

GibbsRule_No3

Agree about wanting to tell her I've moved, because I want to do the Well Woman checks, especially as those are the usual things I visit the practice for. I have been with them since 1974 and like I say, it is the nearest practice to my work. I would be happy to change after I retire in about 3-4 years. I will write and see what comes of it. Do practices like to have patients they don't see often, rather than ones they see all the time?

Poppie68

As you have been with the practice for such a long time and don't seem to have any health problems you may find your GP will be willing to keep your on.
Receptionists only do what they are told to do by the GP and Practice managers but are ultimately the ones in the firing range when abiding by Practice rules so if you run it past them and they say no they are doing as they are told...Send a letter to the Practice Manager as ultimately the request would probably end up with them anyway if sent to the GP.

AlexMac

We moved about 2.5m from the practice. Receptionists are rule governed, have little power, so, delight in exercising it. We avoided asking the admin staff (who'd have said no), wrote to the doc personally, stressed how happy we were and how irregularly we vsisted (fit late-60-somethings-) and almost tongue in cheek, reminded him how we always scored him high in then recent NHS quality Qnrr surveys. Simples

bouicca21

I am so glad I signed on with a local GP practice when I moved a few months ago.

I'm a fit mid 60s, rarely visit the doctor, have never, ever, requested a home visit - until a few weeks ago when I got hit out of the blue with a very nasty illness and the doctor had to come out to me several times.

westv

The rules for catchment areas changed on 5th Ian although I believe it's up to individual practices as to whether they go along with the new rules.