Or should GP surgery's not be allowed to advertise themselves as 'pro-life'?

[Clownwithafrown]

I'm job hunting and came across an ad for a medical receptionist at a GP surgery. I wasn't sure where exactly this particular surgery was so googled it and this statement was on the home page; 'The Doctors here at xxxx Surgery are committed to a 'pro-life' policy. This means that the Doctors value each individual’s 'life' from conception to natural death.'

I'm not reading that wrong am I, they are stating that they're anti abortion aren't they? Surely that shouldn't be allowed at an NHS practice should it? I'm a bit gobsmacked that it's blatantly there on the home page, literally the first thing you see when you click on the site. And it clearly means all the doctors, I mean obviously people don't have to register with that surgery but for there to be no options for those who already are registered just doesn't seem right to me. Does anyone know if this is actually allowed?

Likely to include end of life care also, such as putting a DNR in place ( do not resuscitate)

I had a previous GP which had conscious objectors. It made me feel uncomfortable and that they didn't respect women or care about women's health.

It was one of MANY reasons I wanted to change surgeries. They were known locally as having poor attitudes to women generally. Fuck knows why so many people put up with it.

The problem is that GP surgeries are catchment based and it's extremely difficult to get accepted by a GP surgery outside catchment. It's hard enough to get accepted to a surgery in some places where you DO live in catchment.

I ended up at one point without a GP because they were so bad and I refused to engage with them anymore (they were engaging in practices which have since been outlawed so it's not just me being oversensitive). It took me several years to get a place elsewhere.

So the poor women in that area are really screwed by this. And I don't think an advert like this is acceptable. It is acceptable for an individual doctor to be a conscious objector (even though I don't like it) but not to deliberately set up and establish a practice and then recruit on this basis which makes the entire area at the mercy of pro-lifers and DOES make it harder for women in that area to seek support they need.

Even if we were able to easily change surgeries, it would be better than this situation. This is the imposition of pro-life views on an entire community who don't have alternatives easily available.

This is appalling. And not ok.

I agree @RedToothBrush that NHS commissioners of GP services need to make sure people have access to the services that they need This is something for commissioners to look at.

There are far too few GPs however, as a result of long term poor planning by successive governments really. Its not like there is a ready supply of other GPs to contract with instead, which makes negotiations challenging for commissioners.

Agree. I would register a complaint on these grounds tbh.

It's fine for doctors to be pro-life but not for an area to be pro-life. Otherwise it risks groups of GP surgeries in a small area all doing the same deliberately for religious reasons to control the local population.

I'd argue it possibly is discrimination under the equality act. You can't discriminate on the basis of belief...

Why is it “odd” he would be okay with contraception and the morning after pill?

Most people who have strong objections to all abortion also object to the MAP. Some also object to the IUD which sometimes prevents implantation of a fertilised egg.

All the posters claiming "well they shouldn't be NHS GPs" - why exactly? Everyone is entitled to their beliefs

Put simply, @Elseaknows, a belief is (or IMO should be) a private matter, and full access to female reproductive healthcare is an obvious public need

As said earlier, I've absolutely no issue with people's private beliefs and will always respect their right to hold them, but I don't feel it's acceptable for folk to use these to disadvantage someone else no matter what field they work in

I'd rather not have a GP secretly judging me with their beliefs. I'd rather know outright with a statement on their website like the OP showed so I know who to avoid.

I just always thought they would be neutral to your decisions about pregnancy. Would make
me feel even more shit than I would
anyway.

If you live within the catchment and you can only register with a GP if you live in their catchment, how do you avoid them if you don't live within the catchment area of another GP taking on patients?

This is a issue precisely because many GPs effectively are monopolies and many people don't have the option to go elsewhere.

My other concern that strikes me as discrimination against people who are not pro-life. You can't discriminate on the basis of belief when employing.

This could well be in-direct religious discrimination to prevent someone who isn't from the 'wrong religious upbringing - including lack of faith' from getting the job in a particular community.

It's potentially unlawful imho.

A quick google of the phrase has found the practice https://www.stpeterssurgery.com/clinics/
I wouldn't register there. They should have at least one doctor who will deal with requests for a termination.

Doesn't look like a hugely rural area where there would be no choice

The level of hyperbole on this thread is off the scale. The 67 Act provides for conscientious objectors to refuse participation in abortions and as GPs are usually one of the signatories on the authorisation form, they are free to decline. What they must do is refer on as per the guidelines. That's what this surgery does and that's fine. Get over it.
Do you think doctors should be forced to authorise assisted dying if that is brought in. I'm pretty sure there will be a conscientious objection proviso or perhaps you will be demanding compliance.
By the way I am not a Christian and nor am I pro life but I don't like fundamentalists on either side and there are posters on here sounding like the thought police.

GPs don't usually sign the forms, only signpost, but I would worry that this lot woulnd't be happy to signpost.

You are straw manning.

No one has said doctors must be forced to participate but they are obliged to signpost patients to other services.

There is no need at all for them to make a statement about their personal beliefs.

You should engage with the arguments being made not the ones you are inventing.

They have said that they will refer on so I don't see what your problem is.

Where do they say that?
Do you think they likely refer on willingly, or make it clear that they don't approve?
what about contraception?
emergency contraception?

They have to refer on under the guidelines. Check the BMA website.

They are making a statement about their personal beliefs, they don't need to do that. Patients don't need to know if its not affecting care.

Well I can understand them making their personal view known if it might influence whether a woman chooses to register with them.
If they announced they were vegan, that would be an irrelevance.
They do say on their website under policies and procedures that they will refer you elsewhere for an abortion.

They don't have to do it willingly.

They can make women feel bad.

They can delay.

Any practice which puts that on their website is pretty extreme.

They state in their policies and procedures that they will refer you on for termination advise. That is the law and accords with medical guidelines. I really don't think it is fair to imply bad faith on their part without any evidence. Doctors are allowed to be pro life and there is really no other way of accommodating that perfectly legitimate stance other than by referring on.

Any GP can do that. I mean they shouldn't, but evidently some do.

Given they are clear about their stance on their website, it means that women know in advance, so they can go straight to a sexual health clinic or Marie stopes, without having to have a awkward conversation with the GP that's going to make them feel rubbish and delay things.

Better they are upfront about it IMO, and women can register elsewhere if concerned.

This thread is ridiculous. And posters extremely paranoid.
Clarify their exact meaning but terminations are only done by SOME Drs and referral only by SOME drs. That is the law and GMC guidance. They will refer on- probably to a clinic which can sort it all directly , U think it's usually a case of giving the clinic number , sometimes to another GP.