How do I move GP surgeries when I live rurally?

[byvirtue]

I want to move GP surgeries, I live rurally and have applied to my next nearest practice who have said I’m not in the catchment area. They referred me back to my current surgery or suggested trying a surgery in a town which technically is “near” us but not somewhere I ever go to. We are in the middle of all these places local to none.

Is there any way to appeal?

You can ask your Clinical commissioning group (CCG) to move you if you don't get on with your GP or here has been an irreparable breakdown of relationships,however, you have to take their given option which sounds like it could be your town surgery

what has happened to make you want to leave your current surgery?

I occasionally get involved in situations where people want to move surgeries and there are reasons why this is difficult and how helpful the response from the CCG is often depends on the context and the actual available options.

My current GP is in the next county so all hospital appointments etc are done in that county. The surgery I want to move to is in my county so they have different CCGs. I have not complained to my surgery yet as I’d rather just move.

My daughter is starting school 30 mins away (in our county), the GP surgery I want to move to is enroute to school and also refers to a hospital in the same as my daughters school direction (again in our county).

I just can’t believe it’s so hard to move surgeries when they have space to accept new patients.