To think if a GP surgery doesn’t want new patients they should just say so?

[RhodaDendron123]

We’ve just moved to a new area. There’s a GP surgery two streets away, with pretty good reviews online, so I thought it seemed sensible to try to register there first.

I walked in and asked the receptionist if they were accepting new patients. She said yes, and then asked if I understood how the surgery operated. I said no; she then explained, but it seemed as though she was trying to put me off the surgery. For example, she kept emphasising that the doctors there did not have personal lists, so that we couldn’t expect to see the same GP every time we came in, and that receptionists were not able to book appointments with a particular GP as per a patient’s request - they were only allowed to offer the next available appointment.

When I indicated that I’d still like to register there if possible, she handed me about 5 forms for each member of the family, and told me that in order to register, we’d all need to attend a ‘New patient session’. I asked if I could book that, and was told they don’t have any slots available currently, but to ring up next week to see if any sessions have been added to the book.

I asked if we could go on a waiting list for the new patient session, and she told me there was no waiting list - it was first come first served. I asked when the next available sessions would be; she said probably mid-October (so over a month away). Plus, the times that the sessions run are all within working hours so dh and I will have to try to get time off work to attend if we manage to book this session in the first place.

It all seems as though the surgery really doesn’t want new patients, and so is trying to make it as hard as possible for anyone to register. AIBU to think they should just be honest and say that if that’s the case? Why wouldn’t they just close their books and save people the bother of trying to register with them?

That sounds normal to me.

I think my GP surgery was similar but I don’t remember taking it quite so personally. I probably rolled my eyes in regard to the new patient appnt. and how inconvenient it was but otherwise you just fill out the paperwork and get in with it.

I don't think this is abnormal in terms of a registering process as I've had similar.

Could it be a better process? Absolutely.

I don't think they don't want new patients, they just want new patients to be clear how their system works. Every surgery seems to offer 'New Patient' appointments these days but the slots are often rarer than hen's teeth.

Sounds perfectly normal to me .

They are just expectation setting, so you fully understand that you won't have a regular GP.
The new patient appointment isn't compulsory, if you need a GP before the new patient appointment you'll just book one as normal, you're not blocked from doing so or anything.

I wish I didn't have a regular GP. I don't mind at all who I see but they keep trying to give me appointments with her in the dim and distant future

This is a perfectly normal procedure for registering at a new surgery, I assume you've not had to do this for a while OP?

You don't need the new patient session. They are not compulsory.

This is a perfectly normal procedure for registering at a new surgery, I assume you've not had to do this for a while OP?

Yep. I was with my last surgery for 15 years. And I don’t think I had to do anything more than show my passport to the receptionist to register there.

The new patient appointment isn't compulsory, if you need a GP before the new patient appointment you'll just book one as normal, you're not blocked from doing so or anything

At this surgery it is compulsory. The receptionist told me she couldn’t accept the forms from me. We bring the forms to the new patient session, and that’s when we get added to the surgery’s books.

Sounds like normal surgery red tape to me.

I remember similar when I was registering at my current surgery - they allowed me an appointment when I really needed it for an ear infection before I was ‘officially’ registered.

Normal. They do love a bit of red tape. And making rules, and then failing to provide the means by which you could possibly meet them! Ours isn’t so strict about having to do the induction though. It does seem off that they don’t let you see someone before that AND don’t make enough appointments available for you to do that in good time. But as I said, typical for GP surgeries, I’m afraid.

OP if you need the GP before the new patient session then they won't turn you away. Well they could try and you could rightly kick up a stink.

I've never heard of this before.

When I registered with my current surgery, I just had to bring photo ID and proof of address. I think I took my passport and my driving license. I had a couple of forms to fill out and that was it.

I've never heard of a new patient session or anything like that. I phoned up to register, went down the following day and had an appointment the next afternoon!

Sounds like they've had complaints from patients in the past and want to set reasonable expectations before you register there. Pretty sensible really!

I once lived near a surgery that would only allow you to register between 12:00-14:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I had to arrange time off work and then all they did was give me a form and then accept it back once I filled it in. No reason at all it couldn’t have been done at any other time, they just refused to hand over the form unless I came during those specific times. Completely infuriating and absurd!

Yeah we had that 12+ yrs ago here. The appointment will be a blood pressure check, have you had your smear kind of stuff - but also to make sure they have set eyes on each person their are registering.

You can ring for an appointment if you need one before then though - just take that persons forms with you when you attend.

It's all just a process, and is not that big a deal unless you have significant health issues/multiple referrals/repeat prescriptions etc. that will cause problems in the meantime.

In my surgery you fill in forms just before a health check with the Practice Nurse which comprises of blood pressure, height, weight, bmi, any chronic illnesses, smoking, drinking, last smear, if using contraception, diet. The Receptionists register you on the computer system just before this and then you are registered. It prevents patients registering and never being seen.

The Receptionist explained how their surgery worked and if it wasn't suitable for your lifestyle you had a chance to look elsewhere.

I would take this as a useful sign that you should shop around a bit before deciding! The last thing you need when you're ill is an overly bureaucratic place.

When did the ID requirement come in? I just had to show my NHS card. Is this since May introduced the "hostile environment"?

Sounds normal to me. Our new patient appointments aren't mandatory but I had the joy of getting to the GP in the tiny slot that they have for registering new patients and handing out forms.

I would definitely challenge their policy OP. They seem to be putting up unnecessary barriers. If they want new patients to see a nurse before you are "allowed" to sign up, then more appointments should be made available.

My mums surgery is like this, they have convoluted procedures that drive me up the wall especially now she has dementia and I have to deal with them on her behalf - they have no procedure that works when a patient has dementia despite being sited in a area with a lot of elderly patients so she cannot be the only one.
Some gps are trying to do things differently so they can ration resources accordingly but I think they get so tied up in knots that they really could do with stepping back and looking at their procedures from a patients perspective.
My GPSis fantastically simple to register at and get an appointment, 2 of the nurses are fab, one is miserable as sin but unfortunately the GPs are not great, I really don't have faith in them which is awful as I have a long term condition.
We don't get a choice though as we are rural and they are the only surgery that accepts patients from our village.

Normal ime. I needed to register my daughter before she was discharged from hospital. They would only discharge her when she was registered. The surgery would register her until they saw her... around and around it went. Not gonna lie I got quite upset that day and they somehow managed to input her details "as an exeption" as long as I realised I could potentially be taking up someone else's space for someone they had never met....