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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To lie to my GP

101 replies

tacosplease · 02/09/2019 04:42

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.

OP posts:
Ninabean17 · 02/09/2019 07:59

I got all scans there, paid and they gave them to me. Never once got a letter regarding an appointment, it was either organised on the phone or face to face with a receptionist. The only time an address was mentioned was after the birth and we had a home visit. You still need to change it, op. They'll probably figure it out eventually!

AnnaBegins · 02/09/2019 08:10

I moved house at 38 weeks pregnant. I rung the old GP just after baby born to let them know I was out of area (only just) and moving surgeries. I then received 3 threatening letters telling me I had moved out of area and they would deregister me within 30 days. I was like, yes I know, I told you that!

So I would be proactive in your case and find where your local GP is so you get continuity of care throughout your pregnancy.

Scan photos are irrelevant here as you'll buy them yourself. The scan is an important anomaly check not a photo opp.

SoupDragon · 02/09/2019 08:21

How far away from the area are you?

SleepIsForTheWeeak · 02/09/2019 08:21

I had this and hadn’t updated my address. When I got the green book that you get when you start to see the midwife you have to fill in your address. I did this with the correct address but after a while they realised the addresses didn’t match up and changed my address on the system. They surprisingly didn’t kick me off. I think because I average 1 gp visit every 5 years probably has something to do with it. I’ve had 2 children and they allowed me to register my children there too. I’m reluctant to move gps until I’ve completed my family, if I change before then the hospital I’d give birth at would be different. They say you can chose where you give birth but where we live they will only book you into the local hospital the midwife at the surgery is attached to.

You can’t really get away with not updating your address, I don’t remember being posted anything, but once you’ve had the baby the midwives and hv will need to know your address to visit you at home.

Bunglefromrainbow · 02/09/2019 08:23

Hi @tacosplease ,
Mostly been covered, you'll need to update and your GP will probably boot you from their books.
To avoid this just use your old address for everything and set up a mail redirection using this link - www.royalmail.com/personal/receiving-mail/redirection
Royal mail will then get all your mail to your new address.
After the pregnancy it's probably a good idea to find a decent local GP anyway.

MsHopey · 02/09/2019 08:28

I moved part way through my second pregnancy.
I'd had the same midwife all through my first pregnancy and through the first half of my second. I moved 1 mile up the road but out of their area.
I begged them to let me stay with my GP until the end of my pregnancy, they wouldn't allow it.
Scan appointments come in the post, blood test results, gestational diabetes results, midwife care after having the baby has your address, and then health visitor.
Its crap, especially as I had a really good relationship with my old midwife and had to meet a new midwife twice, she made a big deal about getting to know her as she'd be the one checking up on me after the birth, and then sent someone else 🤨
Unfortunately you could miss important information or results if they go to the wrong address and midwife and health visitor definitely use the address your GP has.

MsHopey · 02/09/2019 08:29

Surely having prescriptions prescribed to an address you don't live at anymore is a bad idea anyways?

LemonTT · 02/09/2019 08:29

Assuming the OP moved within London, as implied in her post.

There isn’t any part of London where there is only one option to find a GP practice. Generally speaking even though London catchment areas are small a radial span from a postcode with pick up at least half a dozen options if not far more than that.

This is an odd dilemma for a Londoner to have.

Rainycloudyday · 02/09/2019 08:33

I’m surprised that receiving your scan photo was your first concern. There are far more significant pieces of correspondence associated with having a baby - scan appointment dates, immunisation reminders etc. - than the photo. A nice picture of your baby isn’t the purpose of a scan, it’s a medical procedure! You need to confess and change your address, anything else would be hugely irresponsible.

meuh · 02/09/2019 08:35

I doubt you've got a choice of only one local GP surgery. Definitely change - you've almost certainly missed post already, such as smear test letters etc.

Original poster
tacosplease · 02/09/2019 08:35

Bit of a side point, but how do you know your GP surgery haven't sent you any post in the past 5 years?

I’ve probably only seen the doctor about three times in the past five years, and that was for very routine things where he just printed out a simple prescription.

My smear test was all arranged by phone/text and I went in to collect the results.

It sounds like I definitely do need to change though, so I’ll give my local GP a call today.
Thanks for the advice everyone.

Also, I had no idea that a midwife actually visits your home - it sounds like a very hands-on service (in a good way!)

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 02/09/2019 08:38

It sounds like I definitely do need to change though, so I’ll give my local GP a call today.

Call your current GP too and ask if you need to leave.

Original poster
tacosplease · 02/09/2019 08:43

A nice picture of your baby isn’t the purpose of a scan, it’s a medical procedure

Yes, I’m aware of that - hence needing to ensure the results are sent to the correct address!

This is my first (surprise pregnancy) and I only found out two days ago, so to be honest I’m not particularly clued up on everything just yet.

OP posts:
FenellaMaxwell · 02/09/2019 08:51

Yes - the health visitor will visit you at home before the baby is born, to check on your state of mind, that it’s a suitable home for a child etc. The community midwife may also do a home visit. Once the baby is born, the post-natal community team will come on the day after you get home, then as needed over the following 10 days. Once you are signed off from the midwifery team, your health visitor will come and visit you to see how you are getting on, weigh and measure the baby, signpost any support etc.

Spaceprincess · 02/09/2019 08:51

I moved 10 miles, my old GP took me off the list cos they dont cover where I am now. I didnt let them know for a year, but needed hospital treatment and the letters from hospital to my GP didn't match the one on file so they rang me to check.

HeirToTheIronThrone · 02/09/2019 09:09

You need to change your address, it's where all your maternity appointments and test results will be sent.

However you might be able to stay with your current surgery as an 'out of area' patient. It's what I did, they were happy to keep me on the books providing I signed a form waiving my rights to home visits due to the distance.

barofsoap · 02/09/2019 09:18

You may be able to stay on the GPs list, however they may decline to do home visits - there may or may not be a service to do such visits from another local practice. With needing appointments etc you do need to change your address with the GP though even if this means they want you to register elsewhere

Butterflycookie · 02/09/2019 09:21

What if one day you develop a condition and need to be referred for scans/see a consultant etc. They would need to send you an appointment letter in the post. Just because you haven’t seen a gp often in the last few years doesn’t mean it will be the same in the future.

Basecamp65 · 02/09/2019 09:27

When I got married 35 years ago I updated my GP records and they spelt my new surname wrong. It was literally never an issue until I needed a general anaesthetic 34 years later for major surgery.

The hospital were extremely worried that they had two surnames for me and I had to see a hospital lawyer and sign something before they could operate.

It may seem like a small thing - but they have to be 1000% sure they have the right person and the right details before operating - and you are unable to clarify if you are unconscious - so any discrepancies in details can have major implications beyond simply receiving letters.

7Worfs · 02/09/2019 09:28

I was in the same situation when I got pregnant.
I fessed up to the surgery and they didn’t kick me out (NW London), just updated my details.

Curious2468 · 02/09/2019 09:29

How have you not needed any letter in that time? What about things like smears or other routine check up appointments?

Jollymollyx · 02/09/2019 09:30

You have to give your updated address as in pregnancy you get a lot of letters and then also visits from hv midwives etc

Your baby clinic will also be in your area

Nousernameforme · 02/09/2019 09:34

When I had my first we moved and forgot to let them know and the doctor ended up going to the wrong place for the home check. So yup echoing what everyone else said it does need to be done.

If you did want to keep the doctors for the pregnancy you could tell them as soon as you have had baby but that might muck up your after care

dollydaydream114 · 02/09/2019 09:34

we will find out and you will be removed

My DP still goes to a GP in a different city because the doctor he sees there is so good and was in the middle of treating him for an ongoing problem when we moved. He has told the surgery our new address and they didn't say a word. We moved three years ago. So clearly some surgeries are very different from others in this regard.

littleduckeggblue · 02/09/2019 09:45

Your midwife and health visitor visit your home. At your first midwife appointment they print off stickers with your address on them and they are stuck to every page in your file