To lie to my GP

[tacosplease]

Two days ago I discovered that I’m five weeks pregnant and need to call my GP to get the ball rolling with midwife appointments and scans.

However, my GP’s surgery is in an area of London where I no longer live. When I moved to my new address I didn’t let them know as I really like that particular surgery and didn’t want to switch to my new local one.

This has worked out fine for the last five years or so as the doctor has never needed to post me anything.

But I’m wondering what happens with the 12-week scan - do they send you a copy of the scan photo in the post? Or is it emailed or given to you then and there?

Obviously if it is posted I will need to ‘fess up and switch to the new surgery. I’d just really rather stick with my current one if possible, as it’s very good, whereas my local surgery gets poor reviews online.

At the scan you pay for your scan pictures and they are printed off and given to you there and then. Congrats on pregnancy. Not sure whether you need to tell them your address legally for anything so can’t advise there but I do know about the scans at 3 hospitals near me (could be different for other hospitals but doubt it).

You won't get a scan appointment without updating your address. They are sent via letter. As are the results, your mat exemption card, any hospital appointment you may need and your assigned HV. Sorry, you'll have to update.

Yep, what Atropa said.

You need the correct address, not for your scan photo but you do for just about everything else

Actually that’s a great point @Atropa I’d forgotten about that but in my defence it has been a few years since I had my children

They send you the appt in the post, nevermind the photo. Midwife is also likely to want to visit you at home

You'll have to update your address as you'll get lots of appointments come via letter. Also your maternity exemption card will be posted out from the government. After the birth midwives call in to check on you and the baby over a few weeks. These are unplanned visits. I'm pretty sure they don't kick you out now just because you've moved away.

A doctor's medical help is never dependent on where you live. As far as his office is concerned, tell them you want only electronic correspondence, like email or text or phone calls. That should cover it for now.

Why do you have to change your address for your insurance? Surely that would be the only real issue?

You need to ask your Doctors if you can stay on their books - some Doctors don't mind patients being out of the area but some do because of home visits etc. If they say no you need to ask them to recommend another surgery in your area. Good luck with your pregnancy btw

Can you not keep your existing gp with your new address? I don’t see why not if you want to.

@Beautiful3 mine did when I updated my address, with 30 days to find a new GP and register. I was 37 weeks pregnant at the time, luckily my midwife allowed me to still come to her for appointments at my old GP for the last few.

Sorry but you do have to update your address. As others have said, appointment letters from the hospital will be sent via normal post. Also, you will need to have home visits from a community midwife & a HV immediately after the birth.

Since 2015 you can register with whichever GP you want, PROVIDING they agree. Check their website, I think it’s usually under new patients.

www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/gps/patient-choice-of-gp-practices/

GPs here are very strict regarding catchment area.
But then I live rurally where they're closing all the time so that might be why.

My surgery no longer takes from my address, but they don't kick you out, they just don't take on new patients from there. Even my dc were taken on as my dependants.

Sorry didn't realise it was different in England (am in Wales) so ignore me!

Think ahead. You can’t register your baby once born at a bogus address. Time to come clean op.

My gp doesn’t mind where you live- as long as you don’t require home visits.

All your appointments for the baby will be sent to you via letter. Once the baby is born you will receive their health visitor appointments etc all via letter also so you really can’t lie about your address.

You may be able to stay if you ask but they need your address - potentially lots of letters, home visits from midwives, HVs etc. You need to sort it out ASAP.

Also the HV team will be doing a prenatal check of your home, and the day after you get home from hospital the postnatal midwifery team will come to your house.

Even if they let you stay at the practice, in some areas midwives and HVs work in teams based on the surgery they’re attached to, and if you’re not nearby that will cause issues for visits / being assigned.

I work for a gp. We will find out and you will be removed. The only way to get away with it is to use your old address for everything at the hospital too.

Will your local hospital change? If so then they will send midwives after the birth from what is your local hospital, the baby's red book will also have an address in so you will need to ask your current doctor if you can change or move doctors asap

You mayy need to tell them. Our address is put on all official documents and sent to the hospital. They prepare the paperwork to register the birth and arrange MW/HV visits. All paperwork was posted to our home address.