AIBU to not be registered with a GP?

[JSachs]

Firstly, I am not a UK or EU citizen.

I am here on a contract to work for a couple of years and then will see where things go from there.

I am not registered with an NHS GP for various reasons that I won't get into.

I have only one concern that I hope someone will be able to clarify for me-

What happens if I fall sick and can't go to work? Is it only an NHS GP who can provide a sick note or fit to work certificate? Or can private doctors also do that?

I don't have any concerns about getting treatment when I am sick as I can afford private care. I am only concerned about the employment aspect- is there like a legal requirement for people to be registered with an NHS surgery?

"AIBU to not be registered with a GP?"

"That depends on why"

"I'M NOT TELLING YOU. IT MUST REMAIN A SECRET. JUST DO AS I SAY AND DON'T ASK ANY QUESTIONS."

My friend is Canadian. She never registered as didn't want to be embroiled in all the child birth missguidance and planned a private home birth, all without any NHS involvement. This meant no assigned health visitor hassling her persistently about immunisations, another area she had definite opinions on, so yes it's certainly possible. However she was self employed so never needed a sick note. It's not illegal to not be part of the NHS despite what the government might have you believe or take for granted!

OP people in the UK are odd about anyone wanting to cope without the NHS. It is a marvelous thing - but so is free choice. I chose not to use it and it worked out just fine for us when we were living there. I don't understand why me not using it offended some people - I still paid taxes so surely it just meant more money in the system for others because I wasn't using up the resource?

Anyway, back to your question. I had to use a private sick note once for work. It worked fine. No one questioned it in any way.

Lala83 if you're self employed you have to have a doctors note to claim anything while off sick as you do it through the DWP.

Glad it's worked out so well for you, SA.
I grew up in SoCal & I rarely read newspapers.

ps... and I don't live in London. I know a lot of English people who throw their hands up in horror at the thought of ever living in London, too.

JSachs if you're within travelling distance of Glasgow www.gpmatters.com is great.

I'm sure you're sorry you posted the op but I hope you're able to find what you need.

Sofia Britain is not London.

And I would love to see the reaction I would get on a US mumsnet if I went on there and slagged off America based on living in NYC!!

And op, god you sound so supercilious. I think that's why you're making me so cross!

If the OP is from Europe (or a number of other countries) she probably has a reciprocal arrangement under which she would receive free emergency care from the NHS. No need to register with a GP.

When I was living in the UK I found the whole "registering" thing very annoying, especially as it was often difficult to get an appointment with my chosen Dr and I was then not able to just call up one of the other local surgeries and get an appointment elsewhere.

I have to say, though, for someone who doesn't want to discuss her reasons for NOT registering with the NHS, the OP could hardly have made her question more tantalisingly mysterious!

Bit I have not "slagged off" Britain. I gave my personal experiences with the NHS as a reason for someone choosing not to use the NHS since lots of people seemed to be questioning why anyone could possibly ever have a reason for not wanting to register with an NHS GP. alardi then asked if there was anything I liked about living in the UK and I responded truthfully. I am sorry you choose to find it offensive. And by the way, I personally didn't like living in NYC either and would probably agree with anything disparaging that you had to say about everyday life for a working parent in NYC.

I truly do not see what you find so offensive about the OP's question. She hasn't disparaged anything....if you re-read her posts you will not find that she has anything bad to say about the NHS, but rather simply that she chooses not to register with an NHS GP.

"I'll take LA any day. And you are welcome to enjoy London... "

I'd take LA over London any day too Sofia
As a Londoner who escaped to God's own county many years ago (Yorkshire) I can't identify with your experiences at all.

Admittedly, the NHS is a bit of a postcode lottery and when DD developed her medical issues we found that we were fortunate to be living near a centre of excellence for her particular problem, with one of the top surgeons in the UK to deal with it.

This is going to sound cynical, but I joined a support forum for carers of children with similar problems. It was an American forum and the support I received was fantastic. What struck me more than anything else was how much more medical intervention in the US - mainly invasive surgery, there was for other children with the same problem.

In the UK they would provide the appropriate medical equipment and then wait until the child's problem had resolved itself. I asked our community nurse and our consultant why that was and the reply I got was a) It probably was cheaper than going down the surgery route b) It was far less risky than surgery and c) American doctors make more money from carrying out the surgery than waiting it out.

I hope your DS is OK BTW.

kinky you have hit the nail on the head

Sofia don't make me go back and quote all your negative statements about the uk. And not just the nhs because I can't be arsed

And I have no problem at all with the OP's question. But I do find her snitty tone rather grating.

It annoys me when people imply that paying for the NHS in tax is equivalent to paying premiums for insurance in the US by comparing the amounts paid.

The NHS is free at the point of use apart from things like the prescription charge. Insurance is not freely and universally available to all. The cost is much higher -if you care about people other than yourself-

OP - the bit at the start that you copied from Mamababa is the important part, employers won't always accept what they view as a "purchased sick note" as I said earlier, some city firms won't accept sick notes from some private GPs, who are suspected of writing whatever you pay them to say.

speak to your HR at work, you might find its just easier to be registered with an NHS GP even if you don't routinely use the NHS, but if its very important to you to not use the NHS, then there's ways round it, it might just be a little more hassle to you, but it's your choice.

Another thought, as you said you are from outside the EU, if English is not your first language, you might be better served by a GP who speaks your first language, be they private or NHS. While many people have excellent English to near native abilities under normal circumstances, it's well known that when sick or under great stress, their ability to speak their second language can falter.

OP, I would register simply because if you end up having an emergency which can only be treated in an NHS hospital it would be less hassle if you are registered. It doesn't matter if you never use it, you've got nothing to lose by registering. Not sure about sick notes, this will vary from company to company. Common sense tells me a sick note is a sick note though.

As for other posters getting defensive about the NHS, it's not everyone's cup of tea. Just because someone doesn't like it doesn't give you reason to jump all over them. People on mumsnet, believe it or not, actually CAN have different opinions!

I cannot believe this thread is still going. Or that the OP keeps coming back to make the same assertions!
OP I too suspected (from the stilted sentence style and grammar, not any other assumption ) that English is not your first language. I don't believe you meant to cause such a debate but maybe lack of understanding led you to ask one question in the title and another entirely in the body of the text. I would hope that it would also be a reason why you may come across as being rude to people trying to helpfully answer your 2 questions when it possibly is just frustration that you asked one thing and are receiving responses to another. Although the thread title itself will ensure your thread gets a good response.
With regards to whether you register or not well as you say it is your choice. To those who tell tales of not being able to get appointments you don't have to go to your own gp walk in centres are at most major hospitals these days. For those posters who feel waiting hours on end is unpalatable to them well go ahead and pay if you can but for the others who want to moan remember that maybe just maybe there are people sicker than you/your child and they are prioritised first and that's how it should be. Triaging systems are widely used for a reason.

I cannot believe this thread is still going. Or that the OP keeps coming back to make the same assertions!
OP I too suspected (from the stilted sentence style and grammar, not any other assumption ) that English is not your first language. I don't believe you meant to cause such a debate but maybe lack of understanding led you to ask one question in the title and another entirely in the body of the text. I would hope that it would also be a reason why you may come across as being rude to people trying to helpfully answer your 2 questions when it possibly is just frustration that you asked one thing and are receiving responses to another. Although the thread title itself will ensure your thread gets a good response.
With regards to whether you register or not well as you say it is your choice. To those who tell tales of not being able to get appointments you don't have to go to your own gp walk in centres are at most major hospitals these days. For those posters who feel waiting hours on end is unpalatable to them well go ahead and pay if you can but for the others who want to moan remember that maybe just maybe there are people sicker than you/your child and they are prioritised first and that's how it should be. Triaging systems are widely used for a reason.

bunbaker thank you for your well wishes. Unfortunately my ds is still struggling, although he is doing better in the last few months. In ds' case we are simply waiting for the science to catch up with the disease. There is no "cure" at the moment, but I am hopeful. I am so glad to hear that you found excellent care for your dd. I too have found support groups to be most helpful. And mumsnet can be wonderfully supportive (I have been a poster since just about the beginning) when the threads aren't taken over by close-minded people who are sure that there are no correct opinions other than their own.
Yorkshire is beautiful (and I LOVE Yorkshire Pudding)...Please PM if you ever come to visit LA....

Hi OP. Any doctors note from a doctor who is licenced to practice medicine in this country will do from a statutory perspective. The fact you pay for it is irrelevant - in fact there was a thread on here not long ago informing a poster that if they don't self-certify they'd have to pay for a NHS doctors note, so it is much of the same.

If you need to visit a walk in centre, if your country of birth/normal residence has a reciprocal agreement you can walk in, fill in a form, and see a GP in the same time as everyone else. My mother did this (a non-British national) and saw a doctor within 30 minutes, without paying, and when she went to the chemist to fulfil her prescription she did so without having to pay (even though she wanted to, they would not accept payment) as she was over 65. or 60. Or something!

There are also plenty of private walk in doctors and indeed private doctors you can register with in London and other large cities and even smaller ones, usually about £60-£75 should you need to visit them. It may even be able to be claimed on expenses depending on your type of work or contract.

Absolutely no reason to use the NHS if you don't want to - obviously if you are hit by a big red bus and end up in A&E you will be attended to regardless of NHS number or not - some people end up there without any identification whatsoever. Any misunderstandings about status can be sorted out when you are well.

Welcome to the UK!

One benefit is if you need prescriptions for things, this is where it is very handy as you pay a mere £8 rather than the prescription cost. However, unless a situation occurs where you need this, you needn't worry.

£75 for a walk in private doc appt? I think we paid $100-$200 for similar in California. Any work they did (DS needed stitches) was extra, of course.

If you need an emergency GP visit will your private provide do it? If so its fine.

Hi OP - I'm loving the fact that you've managed to enrage half of Mumsnet by asking a question, getting the answer in the first reply and then refusing to spill your life details for the enjoyment of the horde!!

I've just called my partner over to read & we've actually howled at some of the outraged, huffy replies!!

Do what you like OP and very good luck to you!!

One benefit is if you need prescriptions for things, this is where it is very handy as you pay a mere £8 rather than the prescription cost. However, unless a situation occurs where you need this, you needn't worry.

Seconding this - do you have to pay the full cost of the prescription if you use a prescription from a private GP? Does insurance cover it? The standard prescription charge (and the ability to buy a bulk prescription certificate) is one if the great benefits of using the NHS.