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Original poster

Fathers banned from registering newborn with GP

57 replies

JohnSmith268 · 11/04/2019 15:50

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,

OP posts:
Original poster
JohnSmith268 · 11/04/2019 16:28

Sorry, I meant 1 month. She is living with her parents for the time being to help look after the baby. She is about 45 min away from the GP.

I am with them as well but I come back to the house from time to time.

The baby health checks are registered with the hospital of birth so they are happy to come to my in laws. The 6 week check is with the GP which is what I am trying to sort out now.

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 11/04/2019 16:28

I'm confused. Is one of you not living with the baby for TWO MONTHS? And if the baby is with mum, why does it need to be registered now? And if the baby is with you, is your wife not going to live with the baby for 8 weeks?

SaskiaRembrandt · 11/04/2019 16:29

It doesn't take six weeks to register a birth.

MrsTerryPratchett · 11/04/2019 16:29

x-posted. Thank goodness for that. If the baby is at the GPs, no need to resister for weeks yet.

TheLionQueen1 · 11/04/2019 16:29

That seems really odd and I'm amazed they can get away with it! I would argue it with them but possibly make an appointment with a registry office in the mean time as they will allow you to do it. My DH registered our baby as I was at a hospital app at the same time and we couldn't change either and there was no issue at all

WellLetsSayHesSquare · 11/04/2019 16:30

How odd. I registered mine via email and just took the birth certificate in at her first visit. We needed to get her registered before she could be discharged from hospital and I wasn't going to leave her and travel down there.

TheLionQueen1 · 11/04/2019 16:31

Sorry completely misread that thought you meant registering the baby not at the GP, ignore me Blush

myrtleWilson · 11/04/2019 16:32

if your PIL live 45 mins away why have you, your wife and the baby not just returned to your own home?? On reading your OP (with the 1 week old) I assumed that it had been a premature birth that took place at literally the other end of the country from your home...

Albamahanna · 11/04/2019 16:32

The 6 week check is for the mum and baby. Could you or the receptionist be getting the the rules for the check up and the rules for registering confused?

howabout · 11/04/2019 16:33

Agree with pp. As the baby is with its mother if it needs a GP over the next 2 months it will be being accompanied by her where she is. It is better just to wait until they both move to where you are and do it then.

SaskiaRembrandt · 11/04/2019 16:33

In that case, if the baby is staying at another address, and receiving post-natal care there, maybe the GP won't register them because they are outside the catchment area?

Even if that isn't the reason, it's not a good idea to register them at that surgery yet because, well, you've said your wife can't get there, so why would you register him/her at a surgery only you can get to?

howabout · 11/04/2019 16:36

Suggest you get your DP to phone the surgery herself and ask for advice on registering herself and her baby in time for her 6 week check.

Original poster
JohnSmith268 · 11/04/2019 16:37

We both live with the baby. We live 45 min away because we are with her parents. I just come back time to time to the house to sort things out.

I wanted to register the baby early so I can get an appointment at the 6 to 8 week mark for his check ups. We could wait for a few weeks until the mum comes up but I think that is a bit ridiculous.

OP posts:
myrtleWilson · 11/04/2019 16:39

But why are you all living with her parents which are only 45 mins away for 3 months? Don't you want to return home? Is the house inhabitable?

SaskiaRembrandt · 11/04/2019 16:41

I agree it is ridiculous, especially if it's one of those surgeries where it's really hard to get appointments, but it could be as I suggested that your baby is under the care of the midwives from another area so your chosen surgery are treating you as outside the catchment area.

If it does seem that it is because they have a rule that only mothers can register newborns though, do complain!

Original poster
JohnSmith268 · 11/04/2019 16:41

@SaskiaRembrandt

We are within the right catchment area. We are only temporarily staying with the parents for a month or so. We have letters and etc with the correct address.

We could wait till she is up in the local area but that could be a few weeks and I was just trying to do everything early. It would be easier than her coming up in a few weeks with a new born.

OP posts:
SaskiaRembrandt · 11/04/2019 16:41

myrtleWilson It's one month, and his wife is recovering from a CS.

Original poster
JohnSmith268 · 11/04/2019 16:43

@myrtleWilson Sorry, I miswrote before. We are only staying with the parents for a month. It is our first child and we thought it would be good to have the help initially.

OP posts:
IC4nSeeYourPixels · 11/04/2019 16:45

If the baby is living with grandparents 45 mins away wouldn't it be better for them to register with a local gp water to where they are living? If mum is struggling would she up to a 90 min round trip for a gp appointment. Sounds like it might be better for baby to receive care int he area they will living for the time being rather than a gp so far away?

Did you explain that the baby is living with Mum at a different address than the one you're trying to register them under? Could this be why they are insisting Mum is present.

IC4nSeeYourPixels · 11/04/2019 16:46

Sorry. I didn't see where you said you're only staying with the parents for a month. I thought it might have been a bit longer when you said for the time being l

dementedpixie · 11/04/2019 16:47

Are you registering your wife at the same time?

SaskiaRembrandt · 11/04/2019 16:48

OP, I'm not suggesting you aren't in the catchment area, just that because your wife and baby are receiving care in another area, the surgery might interpret it that way.

myrtleWilson · 11/04/2019 16:49

oh so the baby is 1 week old and not 1 month - I thought when you corrected to 1 month you were speaking about the baby.. because there were posts about how easy/difficult it was to get a BC at 1 week old.

HedgerowTree · 11/04/2019 16:52

I think the surgery is right but have you the wrong reason. The baby needs to be temporarily registered at a GP near the parents not where you are now. Register them when you move home.

Your initial posts did read that you lived at Home and your wife with her parents.

whohaa · 11/04/2019 16:58

My bro in law had this. He looked after his child 5 days a week from when the child was a week old (Mothers choice). She only had the child 2 days a week but the gp refused to let bro in law register his child at his gp. Bro in law now has to travel 45 mins to the mother's gp.