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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think its ludicrous a GP surgery can prevent vaccination by...

265 replies

dameofdilemma · 25/04/2021 10:57

Deregistering a patient?
Dp has been deregistered (without notice or consent) for the offence of being too healthy - he hasn’t made an appointment in years so they just deregistered him as a patient.

He now can’t book for the vaccine (via NHS, walk-in clinic or GP) until he’s registered again, which could apparently take weeks as there’s a backlog (of fuming deregistered patients).

The reality is many won’t bother continually phoning the surgery (and being put on hold) every day and the vaccine roll out will be slowed. down.

OP posts:
Original poster
dameofdilemma · 25/04/2021 12:07

There’s an online complaints form which we’ll use. I don’t have any confidence a written letter would be logged and dealt with.

I do wonder what now happens if patients who have been deregistered go on to contract Covid, having been denied the opportunity to be vaccinated.

OP posts:
Roominmyhouse · 25/04/2021 12:08

Its not a great system but its not preventing him getting the vaccine, just delaying it.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 25/04/2021 12:09

Do those countries have an NHS system? Or does everyone have some form of personal health insurance?

Where I am from, no private insurance. It's just a quick check up to see if anything needs sorting. Eyes, ears, blood pressure, weight, this type of thing. Same for gyno. And dentist.

PegPeople · 25/04/2021 12:10

@Roominmyhouse

Its not a great system but its not preventing him getting the vaccine, just delaying it.
It would absolutely prevent some people where I live getting the vaccine. None of the 7 local surgeries are accepting new patients.
SchrodingersImmigrant · 25/04/2021 12:10

Op, are you sure there is no way around it? I remember reading that they were encouraging even people who are here illegally to go and get it and I doubt they are risking GP registration.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 25/04/2021 12:11

Do you mean the normal complaints line?

www.healthwatchhertfordshire.co.uk/advice-and-information/2021-02-22/not-being-registered-gp-practice-could-delay-receiving-your-covid

Ignore the Hertfordshire tag, it's a national service line

NHS England Customer Contact Centre on 0300 311 22 33.

Confusedandshaken · 25/04/2021 12:12

@MyDcAreMarvel

Well that was stupid he should have gone in for an annual check up.
In the U.K. where there is no need for private health insurance, annual check ups are not the norm. Here we just chug along until we are ill so it's quite usual for healthy people with no known underlying issues to not see a doctor for years. DH went 20 years (from teens to his late 30s) without seeing a doctor because he didn't need one.
lljkk · 25/04/2021 12:13

What OP is saying is that her DH has to wait a few weeks until he can get registered again & become eligible. A few weeks delay really isn't a huge risk increase for him or anyone, not least because "None of us are safe until we are all safe"

That is "the way around it."

Totallydefeated · 25/04/2021 12:15

Sick of the constant GP bashing on MN. It's not our fucking fault that there are not enough of us, or that NHS England has ridiculous rules.

Sure, but you surely don’t expect patients, as lay people, to be privy to the ins and outs of the more arcane aspects of the NHS’s policies?

If a patient’s been de registered by their practice then, in the absence of full knowledge of procedure, they’re bound to think it’s down the practice itself, aren’t they?

While most GPs are caring and hardworking, there are undoubtedly some lazy bad apples, same as any other profession. And yes, much of the frustration felt by patients is down to lack of resources and poor organisation, rather than the performance of often-beleaguered GPs themselves. But some of the criticism is fair for some practices. It might help to try not to take it so personally, if you’re one of the good ones.

CovidSmart · 25/04/2021 12:15

@MyDcAreMarvel

Well that was stupid he should have gone in for an annual check up.
Annual check up?? What on earth are those?

I mean the system is already overstretched, do you really think GPs are going to be happy to see someone turning to tell them they have no issue, are healthy but they want a 'check up'?? Confused

Frazzled2207 · 25/04/2021 12:15

@MyDcAreMarvel

Well that was stupid he should have gone in for an annual check up.
Eh? No gp I know or does such thing. I’d better check my dh is still registered as he has not been for years.
PegPeople · 25/04/2021 12:16

@lljkk

What OP is saying is that her DH has to wait a few weeks until he can get registered again & become eligible. A few weeks delay really isn't a huge risk increase for him or anyone, not least because "None of us are safe until we are all safe"

That is "the way around it."

But as the OP has pointed out many people would give up if they were told to ring everyday, not everyone is able to call daily due to work for example.

Plus as I stated up thread. If this happened where I live you wouldn't be able to just reregister no matter how many weeks you rang them for as none of the surgeries are taking new patients.

CarmelBeach · 25/04/2021 12:16

@MyDcAreMarvel

Well that was stupid he should have gone in for an annual check up.
Why?

OP my DH had the same problem in his 40s but had a letter first. We found it very odd. He was worried he wouldn't be on the vax list but he is. It's strange though, GPs are busy enough they say?

Springingintospring · 25/04/2021 12:19

I find this very hard to believe as GPs get funding per patient. Having a healthy patient kn their books is great!
Have you moved house? If someone moved into the house you were registered at, and you didn't update your records, they may have presumed you'd left.

Original poster
dameofdilemma · 25/04/2021 12:21

Schrodinger - no way around it. He’s spoken to the NHS, the GP Surgery, and the chemist (who is operating a walk in clinic).

Yes the risk to dp (a relatively healthy 48 year old) is probably low.
Yes it will only delay the vaccine rather than prevent it entirely,.

But when we’re repeatedly being bombarded with the message to get vaccinated its counter-productive to be actively prevented.

OP posts:
stepmad · 25/04/2021 12:21

It happens to me I have not found out when went in or rather tired to get an appoiment to find that the surgery no longer existed it had been not been open for two years
Nothing locally either .

SchrodingersImmigrant · 25/04/2021 12:23

Oh that sucks @dameofdilemma hope it gets sorted soon and I eould definitely complain

Original poster
dameofdilemma · 25/04/2021 12:24

Springing, nope no change of address.

OP posts:
MrsGulDukat · 25/04/2021 12:28

It wont be the GP Surgery that did it. It would have been Family Health Services that recalled his records for whatever reason.

It does happen sometimes, although I dont know why.

GintyMcGinty · 25/04/2021 12:29

Well that was stupid he should have gone in for an annual check up

When did annual check ups become a thing?

Tealightsandd · 25/04/2021 12:30

That's terrible. Particularly not even checking with him first.

I wonder if that's one reason behind the lower take up in some areas, like London, as much as hesitancy.

It's going to affect a lot of vulnerable people. Private renters, people on very low incomes, insecure housing, who have to move a lot, people whose first language isn't English who might not understand what's happened.

I thought they were making provisions for homeless people who weren't registered with a GP?

It should be enough to book using just your NHS number.

MyDcAreMarvel · 25/04/2021 12:31

@Frazzled2207 ¥Eh? No gp I know or does such thing. I’d better check my dh is still registered as he has not been for years. yes they do but you need to book yourself in, you won’t be sent reminders for men below the age of 50.
Everyone should be having an annual check , weight , bloods , blood pressure etc it’s irresponsible not too.

caringcarer · 25/04/2021 12:33

My adult son who still lives at home got a letter a few years ago saying he had not been for appointment for 7 years. That would be because he is healthy. He was told ring to say you still wanted to be registered otherwise if they did not hear from him he would be deregistered. He rang and had to speak with GP for telephone no appointment. Then she said he should have blood test. Which was fine. That seemed the end of it. 3 years later he has not been in as not Ill.

CarmelBeach · 25/04/2021 12:33

[quote MyDcAreMarvel]**@Frazzled2207* ¥Eh? No gp I know or does such thing. I’d better check my dh is still registered as he has not been for years.* yes they do but you need to book yourself in, you won’t be sent reminders for men below the age of 50.
Everyone should be having an annual check , weight , bloods , blood pressure etc it’s irresponsible not too.[/quote]
So if everyone does this, how will the system cope when we or our DC are actually ill?

Is there an age you think this should start?

Frazzled2207 · 25/04/2021 12:34

[quote MyDcAreMarvel]**@Frazzled2207* ¥Eh? No gp I know or does such thing. I’d better check my dh is still registered as he has not been for years.* yes they do but you need to book yourself in, you won’t be sent reminders for men below the age of 50.
Everyone should be having an annual check , weight , bloods , blood pressure etc it’s irresponsible not too.[/quote]
I don’t think you realise that GPs in the UK just aren’t in a position to offer such a thing. Or at least the vast majority aren’t.

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