Where do they get your details to invite you for the vaccine

[Plump82]

Im registered with a GP, my husband isn't. He's never needed to go since we moved to this area. Does your invite come from the doctors, or do they use your NI details?

Via GPs. It is always sensible to be registered anyhow?

Yes, it will be via the GP.

Does your dh realise that he should register with the GP even if he hasn't needed to see a doctor? The idea isn't to wait until you get sick!

Yes he realises but he's never got round to it. Its exactly what i did, registered as soon as I moved here.

Yes gp, the nhs vaccine website says you must be registered with a gp. Get him to register now.

My DH is also not registered with the GP and I was wondering the same thing! It is not easy to register with a GP (pre-lockdown anyway) when you are working full time but have to take documents in between 10 and 4 midweek and then make an appointment for a health check in order to complete the registration, also during working hours! Hence not getting round to it.

Regarding being contacted though, I expect once they get to DH's age group you will be able eventually to book online yourself for a vaccination centre like they did with the over 70s.

@TimeForLunch

My DH is also not registered with the GP and I was wondering the same thing! It is not easy to register with a GP (pre-lockdown anyway) when you are working full time but have to take documents in between 10 and 4 midweek and then make an appointment for a health check in order to complete the registration, also during working hours! Hence not getting round to it.

Regarding being contacted though, I expect once they get to DH's age group you will be able eventually to book online yourself for a vaccination centre like they did with the over 70s.

This is more or less why he hasn't registered. He works long hours, not local and often works away. I guess if you're never ill its easy just to never get round to it! I read his age group could potentially be March (this might only be England, we're Scotland) but it's what got me thinking.

That's just got me thinking, what about all those people who had to de-register when you switch to on-line GP's, and also students registering with uni towns, but then being at home. Or youngsters living in London, still registered at home GP, because in London you. just go to walk ins, because it's easier. I know this is probably for younger groups, but will be more challenging when they get down the list.

Are they not still registered at the GP surgery at the previous address? Just thinking if no NHS services have been used, how would anyone know they had moved? I have no idea how we’re invited for vaccines but have the general feeling that it’s probably a good idea for the NHS to have your correct contact details...

Once they get to his age group, he won’t be able to book online unless he is registered with a GP. He needs to register.

@BigWoollyJumpers

That's just got me thinking, what about all those people who had to de-register when you switch to on-line GP's, and also students registering with uni towns, but then being at home. Or youngsters living in London, still registered at home GP, because in London you. just go to walk ins, because it's easier. I know this is probably for younger groups, but will be more challenging when they get down the list.

Does this mean people are going to online only GPs?

My sister is desperate for the vaccine but wasn't registered with a GP the whole of her adult life ....I think she is registered now.

@nex18

Are they not still registered at the GP surgery at the previous address? Just thinking if no NHS services have been used, how would anyone know they had moved? I have no idea how we’re invited for vaccines but have the general feeling that it’s probably a good idea for the NHS to have your correct contact details...

Thinking about it, i dont even know if he even needed a doctor when we were at our previous address either!

There are two systems. GP run and central NHS run. The NHS will have his date of birth and NHS number and some groups are invited to book online via the central system.
GPs are covering some groups not covered nationally as well as some of the same.
So you may not miss out altogether if you are not registered with a GP.
Most GPs now will go to extraordinary lengths to keep people out of the surgery. He cold almost certainly do the registration online.

@Juo

There are two systems. GP run and central NHS run. The NHS will have his date of birth and NHS number and some groups are invited to book online via the central system. GPs are covering some groups not covered nationally as well as some of the same. So you may not miss out altogether if you are not registered with a GP. Most GPs now will go to extraordinary lengths to keep people out of the surgery. He cold almost certainly do the registration online.

Do they have you on record if you've never used the NHS though?

Mum and I have had the opposite problem, lots of illness and the NHS don't seem to keep records going back far enough. So a couple of times we've been presented with what they think is new alarming information, eg lung scarring seen on a scan and I'm like, oh yes, that's been there since I had pneumonia at 19.

In her 80s, mum's situation is even worse. I realise they can't keep records indefinitely but she'd had two unnecessary hospital appointments as a result.

@Juo

There are two systems. GP run and central NHS run. The NHS will have his date of birth and NHS number and some groups are invited to book online via the central system. GPs are covering some groups not covered nationally as well as some of the same. So you may not miss out altogether if you are not registered with a GP. Most GPs now will go to extraordinary lengths to keep people out of the surgery. He cold almost certainly do the registration online.

You say that but my surgery insisted on me going in to pick up a shielding letter the GP had written me! The system would t let them attach a scanned signed version to an email, and they wouldn't post it as "they're not meant to spend money on stamps". This was early January this year when cases were rocketing. I sent my DH but it was ridiculous.

they're not meant to spend money on stamps

Things like this are entirely GP controlled. Don't forget they are essentially private companies, so can choose what they do and don't do. Same with tech. Our GP does, and has done for quite some time, all bookings, repeat scripts, etc etc on-line. They also send referral letters via email, with copies to patients etc etc. They have also written me headed letters for referrals to fill in with the consultant I wish, and email onwards. So, ours are pretty good. I also use them along side private GP's for anything more complicated.

I chose not to go to an on-line doctor though, as yes, you did have to re-register from your local GP in order to use on-line GP's, as they considered it unfair competition.

@LunaHeather Do they have you on record if you've never used the NHS though?
I was replying to the OP who's DH was registered with a GP at their old address.
If you have come from abroad or the NHS doesn't know you exist then no.

I'm not registered with a GP, nor are my
children. I've used private services for 18 years now, private GP and insurance.

I know quite a few people who are no longer registered and use private services instead.

The nhs would have my updated address now though as I recently gave birth in an nhs hospital.

(I was actually taken off one GPs books when I registered my eldest - they took great offence that I wasn't using any of their services, HV etc, and when I tried to give them Ds private medical records to go in his notes they said they would not be used as a record holing service and took him off their books. So I've never bothered again with him or my other kids as we get such a good service elsewhere).

We all have NHS number obviously and when we've had to use A&E, I just make sure I've got those with me as obviously we don't have a GP they can find on the system.

The database is the NHS spine. It is made up of active and inactive GP registrations. The active registrations form the lists that are used to call people into GP hubs or to go out as letters with the information to booking system.

Online GPs registrations are just the same as any registration and will generate an invite into a local area.

Students will either be registered home or away.

Not being registered with a Gp inhibits access but it doesn’t mean you definitely won’t be offered a vaccination. The NHS works with councils and charities to reach out into communities to promote uptake. This is especially important for vulnerable people.

However it costs time and money to do this. Frankly the OPs husband should just register to prevent the waste of public time and money that will be spent chasing him up.

Does he have an NHS number?

It is not easy to register with a GP (pre-lockdown anyway) when you are working full time but have to take documents in between 10 and 4 midweek and then make an appointment for a health check in order to complete the registration, also during working hours

It may actually be easier now than pre-covid. I moved GP surgeries in the spring and it was all on their website and the NHS app. No health checks and things like I’d had to do the last time I moved.

My vaccine text came from a system called 'GPSurgery' .. so I'm guessing my GP.

We have just moved and registered with new GP. Printed out the forms, filled them in and dropped them into the surgery with photo ID and a utility bill. DH hasn’t been to a GP in this country since uni and is now 60. But he was keen to register now for the vaccine.

It was pretty easy to do. No health check required.