Named GP question

[Liketheappthatdidnt]

I been with my new GP since august. At the time when I registered I received a letter saying my named GP was dr x. However I’ve recently had a few hospital admissions and noticed in my patient access the letters always go to another doctor. Could it be because this doctor is the senior partner so letters go to him? Or is more likely they got my named GP wrong?

Letters are usually addressed to the GP who referred you.

Thank you this GP didn’t refer me as i was admitted to a&e via ambulance.

Maybe they are the one who deals with your issue? We have "specialist" GPs in our practice simply the ones with the best expertise in certain areas we have the mole dr the asthma dr skin dr etc etc

My letters always go to a different doctor too. I have no idea why. I can only assume that there are different systems where it's recorded differently. It doesn't seem to make a huge amount of difference in my experience!

The hospital computer has attached you to the wrong doctor .it happens a lot with us that letters come from the hospital for doctors that have left or retired donkey's years ago. It doesn't matter n practice because the letter is scanned onto the notes and read by the 'named' doctor. Or at least that is what happens at our surgery.

It doesn't matter in the slightest. I am in hospital a lot and it just goes to the first Dr on their list for my GP. So it always goes to the Dr beginning with A. My Dr begins with W. I am assuming that they are just choosing the first on a drop down menu!

But your actual GP (and all of them anyway) can read it so it isn't an issue.

I just noticed my DH's recent hospital discharge letter lists his named GP as someone who retired over a decade ago. NHS IT systems leave a lot to be desired. He got a call from the surgery about new meds that he's been put on a couple of days later anyway, so obviously someone has read it and acted appropriately. I wouldn't worry about it. I don't even know who my named GP is nowadays. The person on my NHS card is probably dead by now, never mind retired, and I've never had a new one sent out but it doesn't seem to matter.

You can have 2 Drs attached to you at a surgery. Your Registered GP and your Usual GP.
Lots of people just have the one and it's entirely normal to see a GP about something (it may be a specialist interest of theirs or because of other reasons) but your letters will go to your registered GP as that is how patient lists and workload are distributed.
Hope that helps!

It doesn't matter. They'll all be on your patient record so any Dr can see it.

It doesn't matter

Could the gp letter be wrong? So really it’s pointless having a named one?

When you visit the surgery you will probably be expected to see your 'named'GP or as a pp said your Usual' GP if you have a different Dr.at the surgery that you usually see. Different surgeries have different set ups, we have 4 partners and 4 salaried doctors and a registrar. Apart from the registrar they all have their own lists but eg if you were ill and ended up seeing a different doctor for whatever reason they would probably see the problem through.At another surgery I know well with a similar mix of doctors only the partners have named lists and the salaried doctors end up as 'usual 'doctor for the patients that they see regularly..I may have made that sound more complicated than it is but the upshot is that there is likely to be a doctor at the surgery responsible for your care and paperwork and if they are absent someone will be detailed to deputise.

Even if the hospital doesn't know who your named Dr.is, your surgery does.

The GP practice likely has an on call rota for emergencies. If you went in via ambulance, it would be as if whichever GP was on call that day had referred you so you'll be under them. It makes no odds to your care and you can still see whichever one you want regarding the matter.

@makelovenotpetrol

It doesn't matter in the slightest. I am in hospital a lot and it just goes to the first Dr on their list for my GP. So it always goes to the Dr beginning with A. My Dr begins with W. I am assuming that they are just choosing the first on a drop down menu!

But your actual GP (and all of them anyway) can read it so it isn't an issue.

You are right. I used to do work in bank admin for the NHS and as long as it goes to the correct GP surgery then that’s fine. Many patients can’t remember who their named GP is.