how do you go about and find a GP here?

[emali]

hi, there

we just moved here from overseas and know we should find a GP to be our family doctor. how do you go about find one? we will be living in northfields, ealing area, and we have 2 young kids. if you are around that area and would recommend your GP or give me some pointers in general, would be really appreciated.
TIA

dont live in that area but phone the local health authority and they will give you a list of practices that are taking patients on. And any other info to receive nhs treatment.

hello

you could have a look here and put your postcode in the 'Find and choose services' box - that way you have a handle on which GP practices are nearest to you/how many GPs they have at the practice etc, when you get recommendations.

Once you have a practice you like the sound of, ring up and make a new patient appointment - a lot of practices really like you to do this and it can save time, especially if you already have medicine or ongoing treatment you need to transfer.

TBH with young children I went for the practice closest to my house!

www.ealingpct.nhs.uk/LocalServices/CommunityServices/Local_GP.asp

thanks so much for the replies!! at least i felt that i have some place to start!

actually back home we really only go to our GP for regular appointment (i.e., vaccination etc.). for the kids, there was a children's walkin clinic that was staffed with pediatrician where we go get the kids seen.. do you know if there is such kind of clinic in west london area?

thanks again.

In the UK children are seen by the GP. You would only see a paediatrician if you were referred by your GP for a specific problem.

GPs do sometimes have special interests, or will have done some specialist hospital work before/alongside becoming GPs. When you look at the doctor listings for each practice, you might want to look for a doctor with the qualification DCH (Diploma in Child Health) which is the GP qualification offered by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, or the qualification MRCPCH, although mostly it will be hospital paediatricians who have that.

Having said that, the best doctors usually do come through personal recommendation, or are just doctors that you get on with, rather than the ones with the most qualifications, so ask around.

Thanks for the following up. yes in canada to see a pediatrician you need a referral from a GP as well. this particular clinic you can "walk in" to see a pediatrician if you don't mind the wait, if you want to make an appointment with any of them you will need a referral. i found it worked out well with us.

is there "walk in" clinic here as well? which means you don't need to "register" with them, they will keep a file for you, but you are not really their patients.. you just go in and see them, no appointment is needed.

i will certainly keep an eye for DCHs.

There are 'walk-in' clinics, but they are not paediatric specialists but more for minor injuries. Also in many areas there will be things like drop-in services for speech therapy. I'm afraid I've never come across a walk-in clinic staffed by paediatricians in this country.

a lot of areas have walk in baby clinics staffed by midwives/health visitors/nursery nurses etc. they are usually at gp surgeries, health centres or at sure start children's centres.

thanks again, yes, in where we were that clinic was pretty special and we were only aware of this one in all the surrounding areas.

i am also trying to find things for the kids to do, especially now that i am not working and they are not going to daycare etc.

what are the sure start children's centers?

i found there is "Centre for Early Years Childcare & Play", do you just go there and there would be programs for your to join or you should call first? sorry that this is off topic.

they are centres aimed at families with babies and pre school children. they have all sorts on, how good they are depends on where you are and how well run they are. you can expect things like play sessions, infant massage, HV drop in sessions, training courses, dads and tots play sessions etc. really depends though, they vary depending what an area is deemed to 'need.' your local one should come up if you google a bit. sessions are usually free, some are pre bookable.

a good place to look for what's on for you and your kids is your local library. there they usually have a notice board and a ton of leaflets about what's happening. our library carries info for the children's centre, the churches as well as the sports centres.

also, your local newspaper will have a what's on list that can be a mine of information. then once you get meeting people you'll get word of mouth info anyway.

try this

also if you're new to the area then you may get a health visitor asking to meet with you. she may know a bit about what goes on in your area. when you register with a gp, they will sign you up for 'health surveillance' which kind of means health visitors and immunisations.

Thanks again for all your help!
we thought we've found a place to call it home--deposit in but the landlord now may not be able to let us rent it.. So probably have to register in Richmond first as DD2 should get her 1 year shots soon and then register again in ealing once we find a place...