To want to stay at the same doctors

[holliem91]

I have been with the same doctors surgery all of my life, ever since I was a kid. When I moved out of my parents, I was still within the catchment area for my doctors so I was happy. We since moved again and our new house is just out of the catchment area, only by a few streets. I'm really worried that my doctors surgery are going to tell me that I have to find somewhere else to register. I'm really happy where I am, I'm familiar with all the doctors and like I said before, have been a patient with them for years. I have never been late to any appointments and to be honest, as silly as it may sound, I would be gutted if I had to find another GP surgery. Has anyone had any experience with this? Is it a simple case of tough or do you think if I explained this to them they would be ok with it?

TIA

Have you told them your new address?

I am in same as you I've moved but don't want to move docs , hopefully someone will know what to do!

Our surgery wouldn't keep you as a patient if you don't live in catchment, but they're a very busy practice. I wonder if a less busy practice has more flexibility. You'll need to tell them your new address, or else you'll never receive mail from them

If you are out of their catchment area they can de-register you and there is nothing you can do about it (in Scotland, at least). Best to pre-empt this by asking to speak to the practice manager and ask if they will consider keeping you on as a patient despite being outside their boundaries. They might chose to keep you on. However, equally they may take the stance that boundaries are boundaries- and if they bend it for you then they have to do it for others, so ask you to register elsewhere.

No, I've given them my parents address so I still receive mail for now whilst I figure what to do in the meantime. I do intend on telling them my new address but just wanted a heads up first of what to expect so I can find a suitable practice to move to before leaving that one if I have to.

Just wanted other peoples experiences if they have experienced something similar. I'm hoping and praying that I can stay there despite me being out of the catchment area. It's so frustrating for me too as I'm only 3 streets away from there catchment area

They can accept patients out of a catchment area, I moved hugely out of mine but they have kept me on. They won’t do home visits (which I would never need) but apart from that all ok. Speak to the practice manager

Thank you @countbackfromten that's amazing!

My mum has a friend who happens to be a practice manager at a doctors surgery so I was going to speak to her before I actually ring my doctors and let them know. I'm definitely going to try my hardest to stay there, I'm even happy to sign something to say I won't be entitled to home visits. But I'll take your advice and will call the practice manager and hopefully they'll be happy to keep me on

Yes just call them and ask! They may well say yes but they aren’t obliged to keep you on, will depend on their rules.

My DH's doctors is 2 towns away over 10 miles
He moved to my town years ago and never changed
They've kept him on have just said no home visits
We will get it changed at some point but he goes to doctors once in a blue moon so it hasn't been a pressing issue up to now

I had exactly the same scenario as you. Moved about 2 miles and was out of catchment. I didn't tell them but accidentally let it slip a couple of years later. They were very cross and gave me 2 weeks to register at a new practice!
To be fair the new practice are actually much better and if I'm taking the kids to routine appointments or whatever it's easier to just walk around the corner than get in the car and drive across town.

i moved about 2 miles away from my old house and have been kept on but told no home visits so it is possible they may keep you on

We moved out of catchment, I didn't want to change practice.
The surgery simply asked me to sign an agreement to say that they would not do home visits. Ask them.

Gawd if you can use your parents address I would just leave it at that if you feel strongly enough about it

Yes a friend sent a letter to the GP stating why they wanted to stay registered with them even though it was miles away and they are over subscribed. GP said it was fine to stay registered

I asked if we could stay registered and agree to no home visits. They immediately gave me 28 days to find a new practice and said we'd be removed after that.

TBH it's worked out for the best as the new practice seems much better.

I had this issue when I was looking at houses. I spoke to my GP who said they'd be willing to keep us as patients (neighbouring village).

However, I'm sure I read something a couple of years ago about the rules changing such that GPs had to be more flexible on catchment areas (though perhaps you lost the right to a home visit). Perhaps worth checking the most up to date rules.

I'm still at the practise I registered with when I lived with my parents. I've lived at my new address for three years now - it's fine.

They’ll make you move when they do find out. happened to me anyway.

Could you speak to the practise manager and say you are thinking about moving to x area and if you did where would you stand in terms of being able to attend the practise? If they say no maybe consider just leaving it at your parents address. You may find once you know the new area better you might decide to change yourself.

Just wanted other peoples experiences if they have experienced something similar.

When we moved house DD had some pretty serious health issues. We made a point of staying in the same catchment area, as they were familiar with her needs. It was part of the criteria for our house search.

Sorry, this wasn't very helpful. I think a good GP practice is like gold dust, and worth hanging on to.