Can my doctors surgery do this

[Bethanyg25]

Just received a letter from the doctors saying they are de registering me and my family as we are not in the catchment area. I live about 8 mins away. Me and my family have been at the same surgery for 30 years, can they really do this? There is a doctors in my village but very small and only 1 or 2 doctors there I think, if everyone had to go there it’d be a shambles. Really annoyed

Yes they can.

Imagine if everyone who was 'only 8 minutes away' asked to stay on because they liked the practice so much. They would be overwhelmed.

GPs have catchment areas for a reason. If you needed a home visit, what is 'only 8 minutes' for you, is adding a significant time on to them. Other services such as District Nurses, physio, dietitians etc are often tied to GP catchment - if you are in the wrong one, are they also supposed to travel 'only 8 minutes' out too.

Sorry, but yes they can.

Absolutely agree with that, just don’t understand how after 30 years of seeing the same doctor we now have no choice. I was under the impression you had a right to choose? I have heard bad things about the surgery I would have to register with resulting in missed diagnosis and infections

They can't in where i am in SE London. I think you should speak to your local CCG, here they are not allowed to de-register someone due to where they live, they can refuse home visits though.

I think you can speak to the practice manager as the law changed recently.

The issue is the out of hours or home care visits. I think you can state that you won’t take the home visits.

I wanted to stay at my previous GP but because of having a baby and moving area decided against it.

www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/gps/patient-choice-of-gp-practices/

Since 2015, all GP practices in England have been free to register new patients who live outside their practice boundary area.

This means you can register with a GP practice somewhere that's more convenient for you, such as a practice near your work or closer to your children's schools. This will give you greater choice and aims to improve the quality of access to GP services. Use the Services near you facility to find out what people say about a GP practice.

These arrangements are voluntary for GP practices. If the practice has no capacity at the time, or feels it is not clinically appropriate or practical for you to be registered so far away from home, they can still refuse registration. The practice should explain to you their reason for refusing your registration.

Looks like is a voluntary thing though - may be worth having a chat with the Practice manager?

www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/gps/patient-choice-of-gp-practices/

crossed with @rkay2 apologies.

home visit from gp!!!! & out of hours in our area is done on a wider area ie several practices - I bet they are having problems with too many patients in their area & no spaces for new people moving into area