Registering with new GP surgery - asking for ID - 20 ye old Ds has none

[Charliescar]

Hi

My son really needs to register with his local GP, however they have said he can’t without a passport and proof of address.

He doesn’t have a valid passport and doesn’t have proof of address . ( he is living with girlfriends mother)

What can he do ?

Ds1 didn’t have any Id and we pushed the practice to register him. Legally speaking if someone says they live in the catchment they have to accept them.

For id passport, photo driving licence, birth certificate.
For proof of address recent utility bill, driving licence if not used for id, bank statement, letter from Solicitor or other professional body, tenancy agreement signed by tenant and landlord.

A lot of GP surgeries do ask for ID, but it is actually not an NHS requirement and you do not need to provide ID to be registered. They only need your name, address and date of birth.

If they are refusing, contact your local CCG’s complaints or PALS department.

There will be more occasions when your son needs ID. If not a passport then he needs his birth certificate. I think that by getting frustrated that he needs ID for the GP you are missing the main issue and that up to you finding the his birth certificate he had no way of proving his identity. Hopefully situation solved.

@Charliescar

I don’t know why they need proof of address .

To make sure he's in their catchment area.

They can't demand photo ID but you do have to provide proof of address - that can be in the form of ID, or it can be things like bank statements, council tax or utility bills.

If he has nothing registered to his current address, he's going to struggle massively. He needs to at least go to the bank and change his address there.

@Thunderblunder

Good luck with that. My DD is still waiting for her provisional from the DVLA since April.

I'd check that. DD2 (nearly 17yo) applied in August, and had to declare a medical condition which takes extra time and hers arrived last week.

Check hers hasn't gone missing in the post.

Thanks all , I have sent him a copy of birth certificate and expired passport . The surgery said that was fine