To tell colleague she can't change her name?

[Professionalminefield]

To summarise:

I am a GP partner, and have been at the practice I work at for over 20 years. I changed my name when I got married, but continued to practise under my maiden name, as that's what my patients know me by.

We have a relatively new partner in the practice, who has the same first name as me. (Let's say it's Lucy). She is getting married in the summer, and is planning on changing her name both personally and professionally.

The issue is that, as I found out today, her fiancé's surname is almost identical to my professional name. My surname is Townsend, her married name is Townshend.

So our practice will have a Dr Lucy Townsend and a Dr Lucy Townshend.

This is absolutely not going to work for multiple reasons:
- Many patients, especially those who don't come that regularly, struggle to remember who their GP is, or which GP they want to see. They're not going to be able to distinguish between Dr Townsend and Dr Townshend if prompted on the phone.
- We are in an ethnically diverse area with high levels of immigration. As a result, many of our receptionists (who give out some appointments) and our patients are not native English speakers and will struggle to hear the very slight difference between the names.

WIBU to tell my colleague that she can't change her name?

She can’t want this either, right? Just talk it through. She’ll probably suggest a solution as long as you don’t steam in and make her feel defensive.

Get your receptionists to say your full names rather than just Dr +surname.
Most people, regardless of age or nationality, are not that thick you know.
I pity the new doctor. I would hate to work with you.

Oh dear @Ski40. The whole point is that their first names AND surname are the same! The FULL name is the same.

Can she not just use her middle initial? So you have Dr Lucy Townsend and Dr Lucy R Townshend?

YANBU! tbh it should occur to her without you needing to tell her.

OP, having read back through your comments perhaps you could see the new Dr Lucy Townshend for a prescription to best treat your arrogance.

*can't believe anyone would actually want to change their name to the exact same name as their senior colleague. In a field where it is usual practice to not change to your new married name anyway.

I tell her she really should not do that it would be a disaster for admin and for patient*

This in spades she's being ridiculous

I think point it out. It's obvious. She can change her name, but at the practice remain as it was...... then later when she leaves she can have her own name. It's understandable.

extract from GMC

she can change her name she has to use the name that is on the register the OP can discuss but she can not insist she doesn't change name, it is easy to change name with GMC with right documents

"Your registered name is your full name as it appears on the medical register. Your GMC reference number is the unique, seven digit number we give you. It stays with you throughout your career.

Patients, employers and others use these details to identify you and confirm your status on the medical register.

Find my entry on the medical register

When should I use my name and reference number?
It's good practice to display your registered name and GMC reference number:

at your place of work
on your professional website
in medical records
in letters, emails and reports that you write.
Shortening your name in day to day contact with patients or colleagues is acceptable, but you must:

use your full registered name when signing statutory documents (including prescriptions)
know your GMC reference number
make your registered name and GMC reference number available to anyone who asks.
How do I change my name on the register?
To change your name on the medical register, you'll need to send us evidence, such as a marriage certificate or old and new passports.

I think your concern over names is totally understandable. Surely she can see this will be a major problem? I think an adult conversation is in order. If she is already known as Dr Lucy Maiden Name in your practice, then it will be highly confusing to patients and indeed other NHS professionals who you have to liaise with. (Eg hospital referrals, consultants etc). YANBU.

As somebody hard of hearing there is no way I'd be able to differentiate those two on the phone, probably not in person speaking the receptionist either (one of ours really doesn't enunciate, my perfect hearing hubby says it's not just me). Back in the 90s my GP had a very long difficult African surname so he became Dr John, not sure that'd pass now but 🤷🏻‍♀️. You can't both have essentially the same name IMHO!

the OP will not be back as she knows legally her colleague can change her name and insist that her married name is used; as once her name has been changed on GMC register that is the name that has to be used officially and displaced on all practice notices etc

in practice people will distinguish as many have already said by saying the young doctor or lucy or whatever

I didn’t think lady doctors changed their professional name after getting married. Always thought this was them hanging onto that bit of personal identity which is surrendered (albeit willingly) when they take their husband’s surname. Don’t think you can force her to change without destroying relationships in the practice but I absolutely understand the imperative to avoid confusion amongst the patients. I would hope a focussed discussion might encourage her to see the sense in retaining her maiden name professionally. (As one in three marriages ends in divorce she might be out a small fortune changing nameplates!)

If your colleague can't see the problem, then she IBU, feeling the need to change to her married name for work is a bit precious when faced with reality and the confusion that it will likely cause and she should just suck it up.

YABU. You cannot dictate what the woman does. We have a Lisa Awala, and and Leesa Awala (cousins) at our practice, and the patients didn't take long to fathom which is which, and after a few weeks they had no problems at all. The Christian names are spelt differently.

not their real names obvs

Meant to say that your SURNAMES are spelt differently, so people will know who is who.

@IIIustriousIyIllogical

Based on your reading & comprehension skills, you're unlikely to be working with the OP, more likely to be scrubbing the pan for her....

I don't know who this is aimed at, as I only just joined the thread, but that is a fucking nasty thing to say.

You probably think you're funny. You're not.

I don't think you would be unreasonable at all to talk to your colleague and explain why her changing her name will cause problems. If she is a sensible/intelligent person I can't see how she won't understand the issue. I can' t comment on the legalities of whether you can stop her though.

At my Drs surgery there is a husband/wife but they obviously have different initials, and I either say Dr B Whatsit or Dr Whatsit female when I make an appointment.
Similarly my dentist is son in Father/Son practice so I say Mr Whatsit Junior when I ring them.

If she's a reasonable human being, surely she'd understand? Have a chat, a laugh at the improbability of it all then say no.

I would discuss it with her and suggest that if she really wants to change, it'll have to me "Dr Boss Lucy" and "Dr Junior Lucy" (or "Dr Boss Townsend" and "Dr Junior Townshend"). Might put her off, and there's no risk of you being referred to as Old?

I actually think that she has a stronger case to use Dr Townshend than you have for Dr Townsend.

She would be using her legal name (she has an entitlement under GDPR from Friday to have her correct personal data stored and processed by your practice). You could also use your legal name, but you choose not to.

Having two doctors with the same name would be slightly confusing, sure. (Though they cope just fine at my practice with a married couple, both Dr A Surname). Therefore the easiest and least arsey solution is to change your name.

Honestly, the "I've had patients here twenty years" argument is wanky. They might not be of British birth, but they will be familiar with the concept of married names Any such confusion would be no more than if you left the practice and got a new doctor in.

But to be honest, it sounds like you have too much of an ego to see the answer lies with you not her.

You could also use your legal name, but you choose not to.

No, not correct at all. Both are just as 'legal'. In fact, it's the using a 'married name' that is more of a convention than a legal change - that's why you're fine to use both, really - your 'maiden' (ie real, birth name that's on your birth certificate) never goes away and you can always go back to it without having to through any legal process. You e.g. don't have to divorce to have a 'legal' reason to go back to using your birth surname - you can just decide to do so. Banks etc. may make a fuss over things like this but that's nothing to do with the legality of the name use.

Compare with what happens when you LEGALLY change your name - by deed poll, or affadavit in Scotland - actual proper paperwork, and after x years in Scotland at least you can have your birth certificate altered I think. Not the case with a 'married' surname... as that's all it is.

I think I’d have a friendly word with her, “ OMG that’s going to confuse the patient, shall we have a chat about it”
Also discuss with practice Manager and discuss it in next Practice meeting so every one can have a word with the way forward.

the cats
Lots of GPs continue to use their maiden names after getting married. It’s nothing to do with ego.

You could also use your legal name, but you choose not to

Since when is the OP not using her legal name?