Prove my ID after 30 years!

[Ladyof2022]

I've been with the same GP surgery for over 30 years. Obvs over that time all the GPs and other staff have met me at least once and mostly several times. During that 30 yrs I have not changed my name and for the last 25 years have not changed my address.

I phoned reception last week to request a repeat prescription of a preventative drug I take to avoid stomach ulcers whilst I take OTC painkillers. The receptionist said she will not authorise any more repeats until I prove my identity. I laughed out loud, and told her, I've been with the surgery for 30 years. Nevertheless she insisted. She said I must post or bring my passport or driving licence, but I have neither. In that case, she said, I must come in person and present myself to a receptionist. I asked how that "proved" my identity and she swerved the question and just repeated that they intend to withhold all my repeat prescriptions until I have come in to the surgery. My scripts include Ventolin for asthma.

AIBU for refusing to go along with this utter stupidity of having to "prove" (which I cannot do anyway) who I am after 30 years?

Thanks for all the replies.

As one OP pointed out upthread, it's amazing that one can (as I did recently) ask a friend to collect a prescription for me, and she did not have to show any ID either for me or herself nor any proof that I had asked her to pick up my prescription!

Passports!!

No, I don't have any photo ID at all. Self employed (so no workplace pass), don't drive, no passport.

Yes of course I have bank cards and bills.

Get yourself a passport. It will help with these situations, and there's a bill going through parliament at the moment that will require photographic ID to be allowed to vote (Elections Act 2022).

Might I suggest you get yourself a provisional DL or a passport so that you do have some form of photo ID.

Are GPs still on the list of people who can sign my photo to verify I am who I say I am when applying for photo ID?

If so does it not seem a little funny that I would need ID to prove who I am to the GP, but I need the GP to verify who I am to get the ID?

Why would you go without meds just to make a point?

It's completely different situation with different outcomes if fraud is involved

Yes I know its a different situation. But it just strikes me as odd that I could be asked to prove who I am at the drs. And then ask the dr to sign a form saying I am who I say I am. Either they know me well enough to sign, or they don't.

If you're self employed, you may struggle in 2024 when you'll have to start submitting quarterly income tax returns electronically through the HMRC website. To set up, they need ID proof, such as cross-checking to your passport or driving licence.

If you don't want to pay for a passport and don't have a driving licence, you could apply for a provisional driving licence which is cheaper than a passport, just for ID even if you don't intend to drive.

Fair enough if you don't choose to comply with their requirements, so long as you are happy to accept the consequences.

Seems a small price to pay to me but who am I to say ?

How will you get your Ventolin without cooperating with the surgery Data Protection requirements?

The question for me is why the UK does not routinely issue ID cards ?

so.much.simpler

Yes, but that's the case with other professionals such accountants and solicitors, where you have the same merry-go-round.

Ultimately, whoever is "signing off" who you say you are has to satisfy themselves you are who you are and document the evidence.

That's probably another reason why the GP surgery want evidence on record. As if the GP signs an official form to say you are who you are, they may be called upon to provide evidence as to why, and if they've never seen official ID, they'd have difficulty in explaining themselves.

Last time it was suggested, there was an outcry from people whingeing about "police state" etc., so was quickly dropped.

Same as happened with the national database for the GP - people whinged about their medical records being online and potentially open to hackers, etc.

Because pre-2016 the polling suggested that they were comprehensively viewed with suspicion by the public and attempts to introduce them were defeated in parliament.

Now, I think the position may have changed. Many people have had an insight into how difficult it can be to officially prove your legal existence/entitlements when challenged by authority.

Special for the sake of being special?
Many non UK are baffled

I've had this with our surgery. I pointed out that no one checks my ID when I
•make an appt
•make an appt for someone else
•attend my appt
•take my prescription to the chemist
•collect my prescription from the chemist
•collect DH's prescription
•see a specialist at the hospital
•attend the hospital for a procedure or operation
• when DH goes for his radiotherapy
....and so on ad infinitum.

It shut her up.

Oh I know. It was just a passing thought that made me giggle. My GP can officially sign that I am who I say I am, only after I've proved to them that I am who I say I am. Which i would do with birth certificate and some kind of bill as proof of address.

But if (as is usually claimed) you have to have photo ID as of ID it wouldn't ever be possible to get photo ID because I'd need photo ID to prove I am who I say I am to get the photo ID that I need to prove I am who I say I am etc.
It's a purely hypothetical thought.

Anyway, I'm not against national ID cards. I never have been. Provided they are free/very cheap. I don't think things should be made compulsory for all and charged for.

They also took my word for it when I phoned on behalf of DH after an op on his mouth that it was him who muttered a "yes" when they asked if he'd allow them to talk to me.

This is one way the NHS can avoid health tourism. It has to be done. Suck it up.
My friend has family from all over the EU, who used to routinely come to the UK for dental and medical treatment. It was shitty to be frank and I speak as someone who is a staunch remainer and live in the EU.

Suck it up. Take your ID and accept that being a patient among 10000 (per GP on average) means that no one really knows or cares who the eff you are individually.

😂😂😂 i can absolutely imagine no one who would come to uk for dental treatment or other for that matter. It's rather the other way around and we are actually all trying to go in our respective native countries.
It's even more expensive here!

It's annoying, but I'd rather surgeries do this than than let fraudsters use the NHS for free. Can't you go in with a bank statement or council tax bill?

Apply for a provisional driving license. You don't need a passport to apply and this won't come up again.

? All GP surgeries are free to everyone regardless of immigration status.
This isn’t about restricting access to care, this is about ensuring only you access your medical info and accounts.

si how about voting, how will you prove your ID.
best to register for postal vote.
you don't drive, so don't you have a bus pass or similar ? anyway from what you say, they haven't actually demanded photo ID, but for you to appear in person before them.
that's not unreasonable.
they have to make sure drugs are not being misused or intercepted.
in my area, chemists ask for a written note from the patient if someone else unknown is collecting the prescription.
but they deliver to those who cannot get out, for repeats.