GP is forcing me to go for an appointment

[alwaysprepare]

Don't like going to dr's or hospitals, never have. Moved to a new town and was told I need to have a dr appointment if me and the kids are to be accepted.
What would they find to refuse us a place? If I have cancer or an infectious disease, does that mean they won't accept us? Why is this linked to my children who do not have an appointment?

I ask because I have had 4 GPs in London over 15+ Years and have been advised to do a check up with the nurse, but never once obliged to take this appointment or else...........

Also, we are just not sick people. We had the usual coughs, noro, etc, nothing you cannot treat with over the counter medicine. Been to the hospital for a broken arm, but do not go to dr unless it's an absolute emergency- I am talking post baby years here. Still all this was no problem with previous GPs, they only saw us when we made an appointment. It seems like a waste, when that time could have been given to someone who actually feels they need it.

'NPM are usually done by nurses or health care assistants as I said above'
Yes except in this case, which is the point I was making.

'The crisis in the NHS you hear about on the news is here, now. And it is affecting all of us. AND it will get worse IMO.'
Not helped if other practices have the the same unnecessary rules and waste of gps time as the op. The crisis in the NHS isn't helped by many bad management decisions.

Every surgery I have been to (a few, have moved around) has done this. It makes sense really, so that straight off the bat you can be registered with any appropriate clinics...asthma, vax for kids, diabetes, set repeat prescriptions up etc etc.

This is their policy. It is good practice. It's not vital, but it's the way they do it. Either go with it, or be inconvenienced by a surgery further away, or take the risk of not having your children registered. Perfectly simple choices. You seem to want a choice that is not available. Make one of the 3 available choices and stop whining.

The crisis in the NHS isn't helped by many bad management decisions

Indeed.
Not typically made by clinical personnel at the coalface.

Puppy, no one has come up with a reason why you will be rejected for not coming for this appointment, just how good it is for me

Why do you need a reason? The plain fact is that that is what will happen with this surgery. So you have to decide whether you are going to put your children at risk because you don't want to make this visit.

Do you really have a phobia? What happened when you were pregnant, or had your broken arm dealt with?

I had to have one when I moved surgeries. It was just a quick health check, as I was heavily pregnant at the time they didn't weigh me. You can always go to the appointment and just opt out of anything you don't feel comfortable with but for me it was literally just a 10 minute appointment, a quick chat and a few basic checks.

My 6 year old has been to the doctor twice in his life, once was his 6 week check and another when he was a toddler with an ear infection. He never gets ill even if everyone else in our house has a bug. I still think it is important he is registered with a GP.

I'd hate it too, op, as I have health anxiety and seeing a dr unless necessary, particularly for any checks, is enough to send my anxiety through the roof.
When I joined my GP practice, they took a urine sample and then there was the whole rigmarole of why there was a trace of blood in my urine (there always is) etc etc.

Is this your issue, are you scared of tests?

"Indeed. Not typically made by clinical personnel at the coalface'

Well no, quite often at the 'coalface', a situation like this is a perfect example gps seeing new patients when as you say a HCA would suffice, not the best use of personnel.

Just a very small example of how many clinical managers can't manage a piss up in a brewery and low and behold the NHS is 'in crisis'.

OP - what about routine appointments such as smears?

Some women do not need to have smears (virgins, or those who have only been with one partner who has only been with you), and some women choose not to have them for a multitude of reasons. It is not compulsory.

OP you do need to go along in person to register but the medical part of the appointment (weighing etc.) is not compulsory and can be declined.

Oh god, you are going to be one of "those patients"

Of course they want to meet you and find out your health needs...

I feel YABU BUT I also "get it".

This post is good.

"Is there a walk-in centre near you? If there is, you don't need to register yourself or your kids with a GP - you can just go there if you need to see one. Also, most pharmacists can give adequate health advice for minor things.

I get that you don't want to be treated like a naughty kid and resent being told that you just have to shut up and obey, when something actually isn't necessary and is a matter of box ticking - so here's how to get round it."

It's an interesting thread!

Yes they can refuse to have you on their list if you wont come for a new patient check!

If I have cancer or an infectious disease, does that mean they won't accept us?
If you have cancer or an infectious disease, you should really keep that appointment!

New patient checks are so the Dr can know if you have any health problems that they need to know about, help you understand the system at the surgery (it may be different from other places) - this may save waste in future.

It also is a chance for health promotion and let them get to know you a little - like what you just said, you only go if it is serious, so if they see you want a call back/ etc the GP will have a better idea that this is probably something that needs priority.

Who benefits?

Can someone clarify:does the practice's income increase if it does this?

I think you should be able to register the children at the practice without registering yourself. For all they know, you might be registered with a private GP.

In fact I have changed my mind. It is unreasonable (illegal?) to make your compliance a condition of accepting the children.

Our surgery has an initial appointment with one of the GP's as a part of the registering with a doctor. They do some basic checks and run through your medical history. I think it's an excellent way of meeting the GP and having some health checks done.

Who benefits?

It used to be part of QOF and may still be in England? (QOF has died a very unmourned death in Scotland, but that means GPs have now been working for 1 year without a contract [hmm[).

It is standard and good practice to not register children without a parent.

As ever, there are exceptions to any rule, so, OP, I'll repeat what I said upthread: speak to the practice manager and explain your situation.

I think it's great they're offering you the opportunity for a chat.

New patient registrations at our practice is done via a blood pressure machine and a computer in the corner into which you enter all your vital stats!

Thanks Pacific!

New patient registrations at our practice is done via a blood pressure machine and a computer in the corner into which you enter all your vital stats!

Yep, that's the way it's going here too
Next will be pill checks and requests for travel vacs...

I am not sure it's 'progress', but here 40% of GP posts are long-term unfilled.

'here 40% of GP posts are long-term unfilled.'
Don't you think many posts could be filled by nurse practitioners? No disrespect to any gps but the role is one predominantly of managing chronic conditions or referring acute conditions.

80% of what a gp sees could be managed by a nurse practitioner, things could be much more efficient with more staff to do the referrals.

This is why physicians associate jobs are being implemented, to try and cover the shortage of GPs but I'm aware some GPs are against this.

Yes, so we need qualified, experienced nurse practitioners who can triage, examine, diagnose and prescribe, who know how to safety net and who are able and prepared to carry the risk of uncertainty that goes with practicing medicine.
They are out there, they are being increasingly used (we are interviewing next week ), but they cannot replace the numbers needed.

Re the post above about the OP being "one of those patients" - does the surgery suffer financially if a patient rarely goes to the GP? Is that a bad thing as far as surgery income is concerned? Is someone a "better" patient if you go frequently?

As far as I know it's still around in England, Pacific.

How come it died without a replacement in Scotland.