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.

Saying you are 'just not sick people' is tempting fate horribly. Who knows what's around the corner?

A good GP will insist on meeting new patients before registering them with the practice. S/he will ask you about your general health, any chronic conditions [asthma, epilepsy, allergies etc] in you and your children. A bit of me thinks "get over yourself" and another bit thinks that your children need to be registered with the GP, so it isn't all about you [which the tone of your OP suggests]. Your GP surgery feels that it's their time well spent and that's all about it.

Its 10 minutes tops of your life

A hospital is not to be used as a GP unless it has a walk in centre

This woman sounds really stroppy and ungrateful to a Surgery which is professional and using best practice model.

'This woman sounds really stroppy and ungrateful to a Surgery which is professional and using best practice model.'

Or, anxious and just wanting to avoid an unnecessary appointment. As a pp said they should allow a quick phone consult with a HCA.

You should go to the appointment. Really all normal. GP will take your medical history and ask about family illnesses e.g. parents, siblings. If they are still around will want to know any condition that may affect your health. If deceased cause of death is usually recorded. Also height and weight for BMI. These are just some of the points covered. And of course will want to make sure you are entitled to register for NHS. If you can't be bothered, then don't go but don't expect a service either.

If you wish to register with a GP practice, the Gp has a duty to you. It will involve a consultation in which the Gp can discuss previous medical history etc and any concerns. It's common sense to want to go???

Damn im glad that not the norm here
Kiddo has seen our local gp a couple times now, me never, no need. Only question sheet we had was contact info
Not once did i need to see gp for a checkup so kiddo could

It might be their practice policy to do that, but it is not 'essential' . If you are determined not to go, and pass your fear of the GP on to your kids, then write to the practice manager and ask why you can not register your family without a health check.

You can be seen as 'immediately necessary' and register in the day if you need to be seen, but that runs the risk of no practice taking you on, on the day, no apts etc.

New pt health checks are offered by practices working at the top of their game. Most of them don't make them compulsory but Good practice insist on your it. If patients decline we register them but only after they have signed a disclaimer (adults only). It is done mainly by HCA but if the healthcare professional reviewing the form notices red flags then the doctor does it.

Why is it done?

1. to make sure you are who you say you are. Documents are ok but can be fake. I once deed a new patient health check for a white Bristish family and I found that the baby has a blue spot on the back this is only found on BME or mixed race babies. So I unearthed an unregistered adoption which had huge safeguarding implications. Had this made the news the headlines will be, "why did the gp not noticed this? They have seen the child 3 times ...." The HCA and some NP would not have this knowledge cluster to make the diagnosis.

We also have legal duties to say whether we think some one is of the right medical fitness to hold a gun license or go bungee jumping. I usually write back to say I don't know, I never met them. It always has implications for claiming insurance etc

On a separate matter General practice is not attractive to medical students because of Myrtle attitude. Some Patients think gp are just glorified pen pushers. But think about this the gp has to decide whether your headache is a migraine or a brain tumour. That is why they trained for 9 years to become a gp. Hospital doctors have great respect for gps so much so that if a clinic is full but a go they respect calls them they will try to fit the patient.

New patient health checks is done on the many for the benefit of the few. Like vaccination.

Hospital doctors have great respect for gps so much so that if a clinic is full but a go they respect calls them they will try to fit the patient

This has not been my mother's experience. In fact her GP told her that they have to ring the switchboard to get hold of a consultant like everyone else (and therefore can't get hold of them).

I usually have their personal mobile number. That is the only way otherwise the madchinery of the Nhs will get in the way.

Of the six health issues I have had over the last ten years, two were serious, two less so and two trivial. I saw my GP for all of them, and the "trivial" appointment times were valuable in that they enabled me to get those issues cleared up, but also to touch base with the GP re the more serious issues; in one case resulting in a beneficial tweak of my medication.

Madrads- I don't understand your posts...could you explain how vaccinations are done 'on the many for the benefit of the few'? And whose mobile number do you have?

they have all sorts of legal safeguarding obligations now so I expect it is part of checking that if you are on their books you really exist (fraud etc), not being people trafficked, etc. Not unreasonable for someone who takes on a legal liability for your health to want to meet you.

So what if you don't like going to doctors? Ive not met anyone yet who loves it.

Angel good luck to the op if she can get any help from PALS. Dealing with them was an absolutely vile experience and I was no further ahead or better off.

I live overseas and have enduring power of attorney for my mother, she has dementia and is resident in a care home. She was taken to hospital suddenly after collapsing and the home called me after the ambulance had taken her to the hospital along with a staff member. However even though the hospital has a certified copy of the POA no one would speak to me under the data protection act. Even though I was asking did I need to get on a plane. PALS were useless. Didn't even get an apology. And yes I did get straight on a plane and yes she was out of hospital when I arrived 12 hours later. Just needed a tweek of her pacemaker, which had been fitted at the same hospital.
OP I don't know why you have a phobia but I think writing or emailing to the doctor direct explaining how your feel may help your situation. You need to do this for your children. Good luck.

It's routine to have a health check when registering with a new GP.
When we moved and registered they picked up I had high cholesterol which may not have been found for years had I not had the health check.
I think it's worthwhile.

Madieraplastic I have the telephone number of consultant colleagues. You do a 1000 new patient health check just to find 10 sick patient. Likewise you vaccinate 1000 children prevent a few serious infection. Look up herd immunity.

ps on holiday otherwise would Be too busy for the simple pleasure of chatting on mumsnet

Always had to have a check up with Dr/nurse when registering with a GP where I live. Never occurred to me that someone would refuse this, seems perfectly normal & sensible to be compulsory.

You are asking a doctor to take responsibility for your health care so they need to take baseline measurements of how healthy/unhealthy you are. Therefore when you do get ill they will have something to compare you to.

Also you might feel fine but a GP needs assess weight, blood pressure, lifestyle issues etc that can all PREVENT future problems. If you wont even submit to the most basic of check ups why should a GP take responsibility for your health?

New patient health checks is done on the many for the benefit of the few. Like vaccination.

I kind of get that argument for new patient health checks - most will go through with no issues, but there's a small chance of uncovering an unknown health problem - but not for vaccinations.

Yes, I know about herd immunity. But vaccinations still have benefits for all those vaccinated. Someone who's vaccinated against a disease is less likely to catch it if exposed to it - that's a clear benefit for the vaccinated person, as well as being beneficial to those who aren't vaccinated for whatever reason.

I hate going to the Dr's too! But I don't think it's unusual to be asked to see the gP to join the surgery and to be honest if anything ever goes wrong with any of you, then you will have a baseline to go from. High blood pressure etc..

MissPasserpartout vaccination has varied coverage not 100% of those vaccinated are covered. I have had many conversations with parent which start along the line of; "but he/she was vaccinated.....". You said it less likely to catch the infection. Offering NpH checks opens a debate with the pt and her wider social network. That can only be good. Less tangible to measure than vaccination but good none the less. I see some patients who only came to me because their brother had a NPH check and was found to have say high cholesterol and as a result all siblings have been asked to check as well.

Also some patients benefit directly from that invitation for NpH check even if they dont attend the gp surgery. they invariably go to private gp, health booths at the chemist or supermarket to get their vitals done.