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

[dameofdilemma]

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.

Keep an eye on local vaccination centres. Ours had a call out not so long ago to come withoit an appointment because they had left over vaccines

CuriousaboutSamphire

That is the exact same thing that happened to Dh one time. There data security is really rubbish as at one stage they gave this guy access to dh’s medical history and he was wandering around our local hospital trying to convince people he wasn’t terminally ill with cancer.
Forgot about that time. That was the first time we had the police round.

I have a friend who works with the NHS and the policy is that when dispensing medicines or any sort or change of address etc that they should go by the NHS number not someone’s name and date of birth as it isn’t an impossibility that someone could have the same name as you and could in theory have the same birth date but everyone’s NHS number is unique to them.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

You are the one whinging about where people suggest that you get a check up that you turned down because you wrongly assumed that blood tests are not necessary. Your choice. Nothing patronising about pointing out that you are complaining about not getting something that you refused to have. If you aren't smart enough to work that out, then that's on you. You are perfectly entitled to turn down anything you like - but the first line was a whinge about wanting the tests providing that they didn't include anything you consider unnecessary. They don't work like that.

@possumgoddess

I think he should be able to get his vaccination at a mass vaccination centre rather than at a GP surgery.

Yes, walk-in vaccination sites just require proof of age. Can you go to your trust website, sometimes they have details of the next walk-in site.

The idea of an annual check up is great in theory, although it's really only the bloods you can't do yourself, although contrary to a pp claims, they don't test for HIV and AIDS! Anyone can buy a BP machine and weigh themself at home. Home BP readings are more accurate anyway.
In practice, it's simply more time. I can do all the healthchecks you want, but that leaves a longer wait for me to do your smear or vaccinate your children. Not enough nurses.
And to the pp waiting until they have symptoms, not advisable. There are millions with undiagnosed hypertension and diabetes, their heart, brain, kidneys and blood vessels slowly being damaged with no idea. They're insidious and the partly the reason why the incidence of cardiovascular disease is so high.

Health care professional here. Can't tell you how many men I come across who don't understand moving house admin includes telling their GP their new address! This, and the fact men generally don't see their GP as often as women, means lots of men won't be receiving their invitation for the vaccine or will experience problems booking a slot.

I had the same name and surname as someone at my GP practice and they had to flag me by my middle name. I had my pill prescription cancelled as the other person was male (unisex name)...

Well this was an eye opener as we've had deregistration letters before when haven't been to the GP for a year so it never occurred to me you could be kicked out without knowing! We do get post for someone clearly high vaccine priority (judging by the urgency) who appears to have register my address rather than their own with their GP and keeps sending off for postal covid tests to my address too!

[quote Moondust001]@PinkSparklyPussyCat

You are the one whinging about where people suggest that you get a check up that you turned down because you wrongly assumed that blood tests are not necessary. Your choice. Nothing patronising about pointing out that you are complaining about not getting something that you refused to have. If you aren't smart enough to work that out, then that's on you. You are perfectly entitled to turn down anything you like - but the first line was a whinge about wanting the tests providing that they didn't include anything you consider unnecessary. They don't work like that.[/quote]
I was not 'whinging', I was saying FOR ME that I consider the blood tests to be unnecessary. I have a needle phobia and therefore I'm not prepared to have blood tests for no reason. I'm not going to lay there curled up sobbing while some nurse who doesn't understand pokes around trying to find a vein that has gone into flight mode. I tried to screw up the courage to have it done but had a panic attack in the GP's surgery. Rather than offer me help for my phobia she tore up the paperwork.

Despite what you think I'm not stupid, I know what blood tests may or may not pick up and if I become ill I'll either have to deal with the phobia or take the consequences and, to be honest, I don't know which option I'd choose.

Have to say that the name and dob thing makes me realize that being foreign and the only person of the name and surname combo in the UK is actually a benefit😂😂😂

@TheChosenTwo

I’ve never heard of an annual checkup either! Are you instructed by the GP to do that? I know someone who has to have an annual medication review but I don’t think I’ve ever heard of someone booking themselves an appointment for an annual checkup, do you receive a letter about this?

My ds prescription still comes up as needing medication review (in 2018!).

He still gets it and technically it has been reviewed as his neurologist has adjusted dose and informed GP who has adjusted the prescription.

@SchrodingersImmigrant

Have to say that the name and dob thing makes me realize that being foreign and the only person of the name and surname combo in the UK is actually a benefit😂😂😂

Bloody forriners 😁

Bloody forriners 😁

😁

My friend works in an area with a lot of immigrants and you would be surprised how many do have the same name and date of birth that is why she relies only on the NHS number as you cannot tell how many people have the exact same name and d.o.b.

@Bythemillpond

My friend works in an area with a lot of immigrants and you would be surprised how many do have the same name and date of birth that is why she relies only on the NHS number as you cannot tell how many people have the exact same name and d.o.b.

I am special 😁

Not joking. It's actually quite unusual even back in my native country. But I know lots of people with same names through my DH, usually some moddle name differs, but not if only initial. Some same surname. Different nationalities often.

It should always go by nhs number. I thought that's what it is for tbh!

I can assure you that no individual GP will choose to de-register someone who never attends. It must be done centrally by NHSE.

@dameofdilemma

Nope - if you’re not registered with a GP you can’t book via NHS or go to a walk in clinic either. You’re prevented from being vaccinated.

This is not true. Sorry for the example but homeless people get vaccinated, with no gp details. They just get added to the system differently.

It happens quite often at our surgery that patients don't realise that they have been deregistered. It has been a policy ti deregister patients who appear to have moved because there was a lot of adverse publicity about GPS receiving payment for patients that had eg moved to Spain.if John Smith rings up and says 'hang on a minute 'I have been at your surgery for years and haven't moved 'we just stick him back on our

List ! Trigger finger apologies!

@MyDcAreMarvel

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

A what? Do they exist in the U.K.?

Anyone without a pre-existing condition is offered a health check every five years between the ages of 40 and 74.

Not in Scotland we aren’t.

@dameofdilemma

Nope - if you’re not registered with a GP you can’t book via NHS or go to a walk in clinic either. You’re prevented from being vaccinated.

Not correct.

@MyDcAreMarvel - what the hell is an annual check up ! I’ve not been to the doctor for about 15 years, never been invited for an “annual checkup”.

@dameofdilemma

I’m really glad I started this thread as it shows how many assumptions people have made (as we did) that have turned out not to be true, with the result that dp’s vaccine is now delayed.

If more people had this info, they might be able to check they are registered long before they are called for vaccination.

So to sum up:

• You can be deregistered without notice or contact (no letter, email, text or phone call).

• You can be deregistered even if you haven’t changed address.

• Whether you have had a check up is irrelevant (I haven’t taken up the offer of an over 40s check up but I haven’t been deregistered).

• You cannot book through the NHS site - dp spend a long time on the phone to the NHS and they explained he would have to re-register with his GP first. He could not book through the link he had received by text from the NHS.

• At least some walk in clinics will not offer you the vaccine until you have been registered with the GP. Dp tried the walk in clinic, as recommended by the GP, but was told he had to re-register first.

• Re-registration is not immediate. Dp completed the forms a week ago and still has no ETA from the GP. He has been told to phone daily.

Now much of this may well be a London thing (9 million people to be fair is a tall order) but more people should be made aware.

If dp had known there was a risk of this he would have contacted his GP months ago, so he was ready when called for the vaccine.

You say he's in London, I posted a link to a walk-in in Westminster that specifically says he does not need to be registered with a GP. So he can go there. There may be others nearer if you want to disclose your location.

This happened to my grandfather, he hadn’t been for an appointment for 30 years,
they thought he was dead.