GP surgery says I have to move to different surgery

[fredberr]

Can anyone advise what I can do about this?

I live in a town on the edge of the county that has 5 GP surgeries. I moved house, same town. When I tried to change my address they said I can't stay with them as I'm out of catchment.

Trouble is when I checked my postcode is out of catchment for all 5 surgeries. They say I have to go to a surgery over the county border that is significantly further to get to.

Surely it's unreasonable to expect patients in the town I live in to go to this out of county surgery? Apart from anything else it means any referrals I need would be under the new county not the one I live in. I work for social services and we have a nightmare with clients who have out of county GPS.

Also the surgery they want me to go to is not great, something I know from my professional contact with them.

Can this be appealed?

I had to change surgeries.
The 'odd' number houses in my street were catchments. The evens weren't. I was even..

Thankfully I moved 3 years later and back to catchment as the other surgery was useless. 45min to get the on the phone, never an apt to be had as it had such a large patient base.

It's so frustrating! Whatever happened to choice? 😟

I think you have two options.

Firstly write to the practice manager of the surgeries and explain why you want to be a patient there. I wouldn’t necessarily be unpleasant about the surgery across the border but explain how it’s nearer for you etc.

gp registration

The other option is to contact your local CCG and see if they have a patient allocation service. They can place you in a surgery.

West Sussex ccg patient allocation

@Standrewsschool
Thanks for the advice,

I would never tell them the bad stuff when appealing. I have a little tact 😀

I'll try what you suggest, much appreciated.