How do you change GP Surgery when other surgeries won't allow it?

[RubaiyatOfAnyone]

Slightly odd question - when we first moved to our new area, DH and I joined different surgeries because we had no idea which one would be best/most convenient.

As it's turned out, mine is great but his has consistently not listened to him/ turned him away with what could be significant medical problems / told him he's probably imagining things. He 's recently paid £75 for a private Bupa GP appointment, just to get the ball rolling on a referral to a specialist after recurrent chest pains that his surgery refuse to follow up because he's had an EKG and it doesn't appear to be a heart problem. The fact that it is obviously some other sort of problem as the pain is quite extreme doesn't appear to be a factor for them.

So naturally I enquired at my GP about him switching, only to be told that they don't take patients from XXX surgery, and neither do any of the other practices in the town. Presumably because everyone is trying to leave the terrible practice. Is there really no choice but to stay? Can anyone who works in NHS admin tell me if there is any way to force a move, e.g. formally withdrawing from a practice and then applying elsewhere? Thank you

That sounds hard! I'd do the whole formal complaint against the surgery thing, and hope they throw him out!

Hopefully someone who actually knows will come along soon!

Google changing doctor surgery and an NHS link should come up - there’s a pretty long list on there as to why they’re not allowed to refuse you. Can’t remember all the details, but it may help you push back on them. Good luck, it’s awful when you lose complete faith in a surgery.

It’s your surgery? Go in on your own and ask if they’re taking on new patients. You’re asking for your DH. Yes, he lives at the same address as you. Don’t mention where he’s registered. If they ask say you’d have to check. If they say yes, ask them about what info, ID etc he’ll need to bring in. Does he need a new patient appointment with the nurse? Some do. Then come back with him. If they say they are taking new patients and he lives in their area (I know there’s more freedom to choose now) and you are on their books it will make it very hard for them to give a legitimate reason to refuse him. If they try, ask for an explanation in writing.

www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/gps/how-to-register-with-a-gp-practice/

If you're in the catchment area and they have spaces surely they can't refuse him?
Round here they won't let people from the same household be registered at different surgeries.