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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if this is fraud

36 replies

Iftheclouds · 17/10/2020 21:45

I posted earlier about letting a relative use my address for her to register with a GP. When I’ve talked about this with my partner he’s said it’s fraud if I let her. Aibu to think it isn’t? As she would only use our address for that purpose.

OP posts:
Hobbes8 · 17/10/2020 21:46

I’m pretty sure it’s not a criminal offence, but if the practice finds out she doesn’t live within their boundary she will be removed from their list. What happens if she gets sick and needs a home visit from her GP?

FiveFootTwoEyesOfBlue · 17/10/2020 21:47

I don't think it's really considered fraud as she doesn't gain any monetary advantage from it.

decoraters · 17/10/2020 21:48

Ask the surgery you are planning to deceive, I'm sure they will be more then happy to explain.

Original poster
Iftheclouds · 17/10/2020 21:49

I did think of home visits but I’ve never had one and I’m in thirty’s and don’t know anyone apart from my grandfather who’s in his 80’s to have had one. I would imagine if it came to it though she could be visited at my home.

OP posts:
MainliningMarzipan · 17/10/2020 21:49

I'm not entirely sure why you're asking again on another thread. Are you expecting different advice?

PlanDeRaccordement · 17/10/2020 21:49

It’s only fraud if your relative is an expat and lives abroad. British citizens who live abroad have no right to use the NHS for free. By law they have to pay the costs of using it.

RevolutionRadio · 17/10/2020 21:50

www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/gps/how-to-register-with-a-gp-practice/

She can register with any GP as long as the GP accept her.

Original poster
Iftheclouds · 17/10/2020 21:50

I’m asking for views on what my partner has said. The other thread was about if it was okay to let her use my address.

OP posts:
RhubarbBikini · 17/10/2020 21:52

Its risky. Where does she currently live? How will she manage if shes take ill in the night and needs a home visit?

Disneyforever1974 · 17/10/2020 21:53

The whole point of a home visit is that you are too ill to attend the surgery, so if she can come to your house she can go to the surgery. I wouldn’t do this you will be setting yourself up for a world of hassle.

Original poster
Iftheclouds · 17/10/2020 21:53

She lives about half an hour away from us currently.

OP posts:
AdoptAdaptImprove · 17/10/2020 21:53

It’ll be her address for all NHS communications - so you’ll get all her smear test reminders, appointment letters for hospital referrals, copies of correspondence back to the GP, and so on, and so on. If your CCT doesn’t have choose and book, then it will dictate which hospital she’s referred to when she needs it, which may not be convenient. It might dictate what drug treatments are available to her in case of some illnesses.

It’s not just a way to get access to a nice GP.

FatCatThinCat · 17/10/2020 21:53

I was an out of area patient with my GP for years, with the full knowledge of the surgery. They said the only issue would be no home visits.

Original poster
Iftheclouds · 17/10/2020 21:56

We spend a lot of time together so passing on letters to her wouldn’t be an issue. She works in the town where the GP is so being referred to a hospital where the GP is would be better for her.

OP posts:
LindaEllen · 17/10/2020 22:12

I moved in with my partner a few years ago, and lived away for uni before that, and I've always remained on the patient list of the GP near my mum's. I only live a 20 minute drive away now, and they know I live further away and are happy to keep me on the list.

Your friend might not have needed to lie.

decoraters · 17/10/2020 22:15

I would imagine if it came to it though she could be visited at my home.

I don't want to burst your bubble or anything but if she becomes sick enough to require a home visit from the GP she isn't going to be travelling from her house to yours.

Coughsyrupsucks · 17/10/2020 22:22

Ask your surgery if they will have out of area patients, you don’t have to give specifics, some will. The only problem you may have is if your relative is under a different Health Authority.

Giraffey1 · 17/10/2020 22:23

Why can’t she use her own address?

LouiseTrees · 17/10/2020 22:24

Why is she doing it? Is it to qualify for ivf?

Suzi888 · 17/10/2020 22:26

They probably won’t do home visits. I moved (don’t go docs much) fell pregnant and they “let” me stay until baby was delivered. It’s to manage the volume of patients each area deals with and distance travelled by the GP that’s all.
I wouldn’t call it fraud Confused exactly...

Fairyliz · 17/10/2020 22:27

What is this thing called a ‘home visit’?
You can’t actually get to see a GP for a normal appointment so you sure as hell won’t be getting any home visits.
And don’t get me started on the NHS spending millions of pounds on advertising telling you to contact your GP if you have any lumps. What’s that all about?

Disneyforever1974 · 17/10/2020 22:30

Why doesn’t she try and register with the GP directly?

Sally872 · 17/10/2020 22:33

It is fraud in the sense that she is giving false information.

Original poster
Iftheclouds · 17/10/2020 22:59

She has a number of health conditions which are poorly managed by her current surgery.

OP posts:
alexdgr8 · 17/10/2020 23:11

home visits would not be an issue round here, mostly because they never happen for someone who is not gravely ill/ disabled/ bed-bound.
if they are needed we ring 111 and they can send someone.
doesn't really matter where the patient is located.
i once called it for my aunt from a distant city, was staying in a relative's house. a doc came, was v helpful, took details of her home GP to inform of action taken.