GP question

[tinglymint]

My good friend is part of the reception/admin team at my GP (a senior team member).

When I eventually conceive (been TTC for a few months) I don't want anyone but immediate family to know until the 12 week scan.

Am I able to skip the GP entirely and go straight to a midwife?

I am in England if that's relevant.

Depends on the area/NHS trust you’re in. With mine I self-referred straight to the midwife, bypassing needing to speak with the GP.

Have a little search online; put the name of the hospital you’ll likely give birth in followed by ‘maternity’ and you should hopefully be able to check if you can self-refer yourself

@Nam095

Depends on the area/NHS trust you’re in. With mine I self-referred straight to the midwife, bypassing needing to speak with the GP.

Have a little search online; put the name of the hospital you’ll likely give birth in followed by ‘maternity’ and you should hopefully be able to check if you can self-refer yourself

Thank you that's really helpful!

You self refer to the midwife in our local area (south east), had no contact with my GP at all. Good luck!

I self referred to the midwife here, but my booking in appointment was at the surgery. In non-covid times it's usually at a community centre, but something else to be aware of.

I know you will want to share the news yourself with your friend, but you shouldn't worry that your friend would start blabbing. Its part of the job that they know they're not to discuss anything they find out in work outside of it, as it would be gross misconduct.

Good luck!

I’m in Suffolk and here we self refer. Look online at midwives at your local hospital and see what it says. My booking appointment was with the midwife over the phone and then I went to the hospital for a scan and the midwife centre for bloods. No gp except to get an exemption certificate. The exemption certificate gives you free prescriptions, free folic acid, dentist appointments etc. Maybe wait until after 12 weeks for that if you can.