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Original poster

I've moved house but I don't want to change GP

37 replies

AuntiePushpa · 07/02/2023 09:33

My surgery is great - same day telephone appointments and I've had good experiences whenever I've needed them. Plus they're next door to my parents, not far from where I work and I've been with them for decades.

I've moved house, significantly far away, and my question is are the surgery able to insist I get a new dr?

I'm sure they wouldn't accept registration of a new patient from my address but maybe the situation is different because I'm already registered. I understand they'd want me to change and all the downsides to having your dr far away, but maybe there are rules about actually taking me off their books without my consent.

So far I just haven't told them about change of address but I know that isn't a sensible strategy.

Possibly a less rational reason: I have a repeat prescription for migraine medicine that I'm worried a new dr might want to review - the thought of not having it available is stressing me out.

OP posts:
ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 07/02/2023 09:34

In theory you can register with any doctor.

However, l heard a conversation between a patient and receptionist at my gp about this. She said they couldn’t do it, as they were too busy. So he had to find another doctor.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 07/02/2023 09:35

Changing doctors puts me off moving house.

thatheavyperson · 07/02/2023 09:38

When I moved to my current house, my old GP promptly sent me a letter saying they were kicking me out the practice 😭 no clue how they automatically knew my new address straight away.

Strangely, they didn't take my husband off the list 🤔 don't know what makes him so special!!

Travellingraspberry · 07/02/2023 09:39

Could you change your address to your parents house? That way you'd still get any letters they send

DrMarciaFieldstone · 07/02/2023 09:40

My GP (who will not accept patients from outwith their set catchment) let us stay with them at their suggestion after we moved to the next town. I rang them to ask if they could carry on repeat prescriptions while I transferred to another one, and they said there was no need to leave. They processed the address change no issue

kirinm · 07/02/2023 09:40

I didn't change my GP when I moved away from their catchment. I even changed my address and although the receptionist told me I'd probably get kicked out, that was 7 years ago and both me and my daughter are registered there (and daughter only came along 4 years ago). I'd stay but be prepared that they might one day kick you out.

Gloschick · 07/02/2023 09:47

You can often re register as an out of area patient. You just need to sign something to say that you don't expect
them to do home visits for you. I wouldn't leave it as it is. You will get appointment letters going to your old address etc which isn't ideal.

Original poster
AuntiePushpa · 07/02/2023 10:53

Thanks all, seems like people have had diff experiences and it isn't predictable what they'll say when I tell them I've moved which makes me not want to tell them... Not ideal I know @Gloschick!

Yep giving my parents address is an option I hadn't considered, thank you @Travellingraspberry. Lots of options to mull over, appreciated all.

OP posts:
Original poster
AuntiePushpa · 07/02/2023 10:55

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 07/02/2023 09:35

Changing doctors puts me off moving house.

Haha @ArseInTheCoOpWindow, same here if I had actually thought about it before moving!

OP posts:
HavfrueDenizKisi · 07/02/2023 10:58

Yes I don't think there's a universal rule as GP surgeries are private businesses that the NHS pay (I think). So will depend on your surgery. And will depend on your health needs.

My last surgery said I had to change when we moved although I would have happily stayed. We didn't see them that much so no ongoing treatments etc.

But my previous one where I lived in my 20s happily kept me on even though I was out of catchment.

WaddleAway · 07/02/2023 10:58

Our GP surgery is massively oversubscribed so they can’t keep people on who move out of the area. I imagine it will depend on your GP and you’ll have to ask them.
One point to consider though… if everyone who moves out of the area stays registered with them because they can easily get same day appointments, it wouldn’t be long before it wasn’t so easy to get same day appointments as they will have too many patients to service.

mondaytosunday · 07/02/2023 11:15

I've moved 70 miles and kept my old GP. I haven't told them my new address! But when I moved ten miles they said I was fine to keep it then - I had to sign a form acknowledging they would not do home visits to me.
I've registered my daughter at our local one, and the website clearly states that they do not require proof of address nor can they insist on one.

Moonlightsonatas · 07/02/2023 11:18

thatheavyperson · 07/02/2023 09:38

When I moved to my current house, my old GP promptly sent me a letter saying they were kicking me out the practice 😭 no clue how they automatically knew my new address straight away.

Strangely, they didn't take my husband off the list 🤔 don't know what makes him so special!!

Assume the people who bought your old house registered at the GP, it would flag up other people who lived at that address.

Glitterstars · 07/02/2023 11:20

I think it makes sense to move GP’s if you think that the person who has moved into your new house will need to register at that GP then they will soon know that you are no longer living there and if you don’t move gps they will have too many patients if everyone did the same . Your new gp may be as good

APlaceOfGreaterSafety · 07/02/2023 11:24

It’ll depend on the GP surgery.

I had one house move where I got to stay with the old GP, with the caveat that home visits would be unavailable.

But then my current GP surgery reduced their boundaries a few years ago because they had too many patients on the books, and they kicked out a load of patients from outlying areas.

beetrootface74 · 07/02/2023 12:08

We didn't inform our surgery that we had moved because it was more convenient for us to stay with them because we both work in the same town it is based. I just had to remember to give the 'old' address when I picked up a prescription.
Recently my DH went to the minor injuries unit and gave our new address. That same afternoon the surgery rang him and told him he had 30 days to register with a surgery closer to our home address and he would be removed from their register

thatheavyperson · 07/02/2023 12:12

We were first time buyers @Moonlightsonatas ! Oh well. My new GP surgery is okay at least

Sidge · 07/02/2023 12:21

mondaytosunday · 07/02/2023 11:15

I've moved 70 miles and kept my old GP. I haven't told them my new address! But when I moved ten miles they said I was fine to keep it then - I had to sign a form acknowledging they would not do home visits to me.
I've registered my daughter at our local one, and the website clearly states that they do not require proof of address nor can they insist on one.

That could bite you on the arse if you ever need to go to hospital and give your new address (and not doing so would be stupid). Correspondence copied in to your GP showing your new address will flag it to them and they will probably boot you off the list.

Ten miles is one thing (depending on the area you live) but 70 miles away is daft! What do you plan to do if you need an appointment - travel 70 miles? Or register at a local surgery for immediate necessary treatment which is limiting.

AnnaMagnani · 07/02/2023 12:38

There are other community services that all come via your GP - you may not need them at the moment but if you do, you will find yourself stuck as the services 70miles away are not going to want to come to your house.

pinkpirlie · 07/02/2023 12:50

I stayed with the same doctor when I moved out of area for the same reasons as you.

They just sent me a letter staying I wasn't entitled to home visits due to being out of area that I had to sign and return.

I think it is down to the individual practice whether they will allow it or not.

In your shoes I would just change address to parents though.

TheOtherHotstepper · 07/02/2023 13:37

I've seen our surgery cancel someone's appointment while they were already waiting because they took that opportunity to notify their change of address, which was outside the catchment area.

TroysMammy · 07/02/2023 13:54

Your new address could come under a different health board.

Any screening letters from your local health board returned not at that address will trigger a "return undelivered" and you will be deducted from your surgery. You won't be able to re-register as you are out of area.

Any hospital letters with an out of area address will be brought to the attention of the Practice Manager and a letter will be sent advising you to find another GP within a 28 day period. If you don't do that then you will be without a GP and you won't be able to be a temporary patient at your current surgery as you will be "out of area".

You could have telephone and e-consults but the GP might want you to attend for an examination at short notice. How will that work if you live 30 miles away and the appointment is in 20 minutes because your records indicate you only live down the road?

The best thing to do is to shop around for a suitable GP in your new area that suits you.

HalloumiFries · 07/02/2023 14:03

When DH and I first moved in together, we were 10 miles from my previous address and GP practice and less than 2 miles from his. I had to change but his let him stay on - although they wouldn't accept me as a patient. It was a situation which brought home the stark contrast between practices. The one I attended, near our house, was downright awful and stressful to deal with whereas everything seemed so much easier for him.

We've since moved again and both now use the same practice which is also fantastic and really puts me off moving again.

dizzydizzydizzy · 07/02/2023 15:34

OP, why not just phone up your surgery and make a general enquiry asking if patients who move out of the area can stay in their list.

I understand what you mean. I would hate to change GPs. Mine is amazing. However, I understand what others have said about community services. I have had to use
Several in the last few years.

rwalker · 07/02/2023 15:37

My sister moved and didn’t re register
her son ended up in a and e discharge letter sent to doctors
follow up info sent to old address caused lot of problems

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