Fathers banned from registering newborn with GP

[JohnSmith268]

Hi guys,

I am trying to register my 1 week old baby at my local GP. We recently moved to the area so I am only person to have registered at the GP so far.

However, I was just told by the receptionist that Fathers are not allowed to register newborns. Only Mothers.

Now, that seems like a ridiculous and sexist rule. My other half is currently living with her parents recovering from her emergency C Section so it is difficult for her to travel back with me to register herself and the child anytime soon.

Has anyone else experienced this ? My name is on the Birth Certificate and the address is the same as well.

Thanks,

What if the mother died? What if 2 fathers have adopted?

That's a nonsense rule. I'd be going back and speaking to the practice manager.

That’s odd I’d have though being on the birth certificate would have been enough. Unless mum and baby have to be registered at the same surgery? My baby automatically got added to my GP’s patient list maybe it’s something like that? Very odd though

Did you ask why? Or ask to speak to the practice manager? We just had a standard NHS form to fill in to register our son a few weeks ago. My partner (male) collected it from the GP and returned it to them and showed the birth certificate. No difficulty here and we aren't married either.

I'd have thought that as long as you could prove parental responsibility (and that the baby ordinarily lives with you maybe) either parent could do it.

Seems very odd. That can't be right, can it?

Did they give you a reason?

Yes, what reason did they give? It sounds very odd.

Did they know that they baby was registered and had a birth certificate, did you have it with you?
You need to prove parental responsibility to register the baby. Either through a birth certificate or a marriage certificate. If you're the mother than you don't need to do this because you have automatic PR.

OP, did you take the form the registrar gave you when you registered the birth?

So I called them again.

The receptionist said it was "an NHS rule". I asked where it was written and obviously, she didn't know.

She then asked the practice manager who said it was a made up "surgery rule".

Anyway, I said I would make a complaint since they are insisting the mother has to present even though she won't be back for 2 months.

Yep. I took the Birth Certificate. They are insisting the mother has to be present.

How do you already have a birth certificate if your baby is only a week old??

It was a six week wait when mine were born

its like with passports as my other halfs family run a post office .I asked him once when he was dropping our daughter at grandparents please could you do the passport form.Seemed like no big deal to me but we got word from passport office apparently i needed to give permission or i should have done it =/.Unfortunately its to do with fathers taking away children from their mothers without permission which is a shame but understandable.

Maybe your misses could ring the surgery say i would like to register my family but i am unable to come in due to poor health would my other half be able to do this for me

Is the baby with your wife?

You need a form from the registrar as well as the birth certificate.

Speak to the practice manager.
I have experienced some total nonsense from receptionists regarding registrations - they may genuinely not know the process.
Did you take the card with the baby's NHS number with you as well as the BC and registration document?
You probably also need to take your own proof of address.
However, it would seem safer and more sensible that if the baby is with your wife elsewhere, the baby should be registered with your wife's GP, then both register locally when she and the baby come home.

Looking back, I registered my DC at the 6 week check. I didn't have all the documents earlier than that.

I am a little confused. At 1 week old the baby is with mum and will not need to be registered at a new DR.
The baby and mum will receive home visit from the midwife so why the urgent need to register with a new Dr?

My gp reluctantly registered our daughter at 10 days old because I wasn't present. I phoned and complained.

@Jumbo2000 A 6 week wait for birth certificate? You should get it instantly from the registry office. How do you claim child benefit without it?

The baby is better off being temporarily registered at her parents surgery then can change to yours when they return home.

How far is it? Are you visiting regularly?

Anyone on the birth certificate should be able to register their child at a doctors, but why are you registering the child at a doctors near you when the mother is away? Shouldn’t it be registered near her so that she can take it in for health checks etc?

Why will she not be back for two months?

You should have asked what if mother had died... Bet that would shut them up. What a very sexist rule! Hope they change their policy.

How do you already have a birth certificate if your baby is only a week old??

It was a six week wait when mine were born

Why did you have to wait for it? Our registrar gives you the BC when you register.

Make a complaint. They are impeding your child’s access to healthcare. They’re also being sexist. Don’t let this get you down, you are clearly going through a difficult time right now but youaredoingreally well