Finding new doctor

Nicki

We have moved about a mile down the road, but sadly our fantastic GP practice says we are now outside their catchment area and we need to register with a new GP.

Any tips for finding a good new practice? We don't know anyone else living in the new area so personal recommendation is out. The local PCT has given us the names of 6 practices whose catchment area we are in. Is it simply a question of going round all 6 and seeing which one you like the look of best, and hoping they have places available, or is there a way of finding out what services they offer, and what the doctors are like?

The complicating feature is that my DD is profoundly autistic and so we would like a doctor who is accommodating of this. One of the practices on the list, we have approached already but they said that we would have to bring DD to a pre-registration examination with the practice nurse during a 3 hour drop in slot (which they said was often busy) and even when we explained DD's problems said we couldn't pre-book a time with the nurse for her, or be seen first, she would just have to wait her turn :eek: That would not be something that my DD would be able to do for up to 3 hours in a completely unfamiliar and frightening environment. It is in any case unnecessary in my view as she is seen every year by the Community Paediatrician because of her disability, and he does all the standard child care checks then. Even then, in a very familiar setting, it is very hit or miss whether she will allow herself to be weighed and measured.

The second complication is that I am currently undergoing tests for an as yet undiagnosed condition and would really rather stay where I am. My GP has said this isn't an option however and that patients move from surgery to surgery all the time and the system is set up to accomodate this, with no delays or missing notes to hold things up. I'm not sure I believe this :rolleyes: but what there doesn't seem a lot I can do about it, as if I don't find a new doctor soon, they will just de-register me from the original practice.

rich68

Hi

The first place I would look is https://www.nhs.uk

You can search for the local GPs (and dentists, opticians, pharmacists) and in theory you should be able to find some information about each practice, the staff and services etc. However, the ones I looked at all said "We do no currently have any information about services / clinics" so it is still a bit patchy yet. But you might just find some info, such as performance ratings.

DrFluffy

As you already have a list of your new local GPs, I'd look on some of the community websites (such as movethat.co.uk) to see what people think...

To give an example: http://www.movethat.co.uk/London/My/Hackney/?threadID=118


The other thing you can do, if you're mid tests, is write to the Practice Manager requesting to stay on the books of your old GP until you have a firm diagnosis - it really is at their discretion... There is ALWAYS a delay of between a month and several months for your notes to catch up with you... Even with EMIS.

Savvy_Sue

I would be phoning a few of them and asking what their 'new patient induction' routine is like. Sounds like one practice is off the list already.

Also visit a few, see what you think of the waiting rooms, ask about surgery times, emergencies, specialisations etc. Some GPs have a particular interest which might fit your needs.

Nicki

Thanks for this. Having looked at the nhs site, it turns out that we are in fact only in the catchment area of 3 surgeries, only 2 of which were on the list the PCT gave me. It's good to know they are giving the right advice...

The patient ratings for 2 out of the 3 in terms of being able to get an appointment within 2 days, or with the same doctor, or having the phone answered are less than 40%. Only the one who is being inflexible with its induction criteria, scores reasonably across the board. So its going to be a difficult decision I think, though I will do as Savvy Sue suggests and visit all 3 to check out how they look in the flesh.

Dr Fluffy are there any official sources about how the transfer of records works in practice? I have googled but didn't come up with anything more recent than 2006 and the system may have changed since then. My GP was adamant that records were transferred quickly these days but given that it takes a minimum of 2 weeks to get a referral letter for a hospital/consultant's appointment, I do find it hard to believe that moving the whole of your records is any easier (and my medical history is unfortunately long and complex). If I could back up my concerns about the transfer perhaps I could persuade the PM of the current practice to let me stay registered. It's not as if my GPs surgery offers home visits anyway, as anyone needing to see them out of hours has to go to the local hospital where they have an out of hours room, and I'm actually closer to the hospital than I am to them, and although I am being investigated, I'm not currently on prescribed medication and have private medical insurance so am not taking up any resources other than a 5 minute appointment every few weeks to organise the next referral.

Savvy_Sue

Well, another thought would be to phone the practice which seems to do well, and ask to speak personally to the practice manager rather than the first person who answers the phone. Explain that what you've been told will be impossible, because of your daughter's disability, and ask what they'll do about it? Because I think if they say 'nothing' they'd be in breach of the DDA ...

Although I don't necessarily trust government stats ...

DrFluffy

Nicki wrote: »

Dr Fluffy are there any official sources about how the transfer of records works in practice? I have googled but didn't come up with anything more recent than 2006 and the system may have changed since then. My GP was adamant that records were transferred quickly these days but given that it takes a minimum of 2 weeks to get a referral letter for a hospital/consultant's appointment, I do find it hard to believe that moving the whole of your records is any easier (and my medical history is unfortunately long and complex). If I could back up my concerns about the transfer perhaps I could persuade the PM of the current practice to let me stay registered. It's not as if my GPs surgery offers home visits anyway, as anyone needing to see them out of hours has to go to the local hospital where they have an out of hours room, and I'm actually closer to the hospital than I am to them, and although I am being investigated, I'm not currently on prescribed medication and have private medical insurance so am not taking up any resources other than a 5 minute appointment every few weeks to organise the next referral.

I'm not sure - but basically, when you deregister from one GP practice, your notes are sent to a central facility where they are held until you register with a new practice. Wne you register, the new practice then send for them. In theory, they have to be summarised and live on the computer within 6 weeks of the new surgery recieving them, but it really does depend on how busy and large the new practice is... The more new patients they get the longer it takes. The PC systems GPs use rarely (if ever?) hook up, so it's down to a human at the new practice to read through all your notes (old Lloyd George notes and any computer summaries, any test results of note, clinic letters, hospital discharge letters etc) and summarise them for your new GPs PC system...

That said - they should be in the practice somewhere, usually within a month of registering, awaiting summarising...

It took 3 months for my notes to catch up with me last time I moved GP!