Staying with GP

[SeaJayPea]

Hi, does anybody know what the rules are regarding being registered with a GP? I've been going to my local practice for 30 years and am absolutely delighted with them. I have the opportunity to move 40 miles away for a couple of years. All the GP surgeries in the new area are in the hands of one man and, frankly, I just do not like him one bit. (He used to look after my parents, but not particularly well, in my opinion)

Can I remain registered with my current GP for the duration? It would be no problem to get to them should I ever need to and there's an A & E round the corner from the new place in case of emergencies.

Thanks a lot.

[woofgang]

some surgeries will do it, although 40 miles is a bit far. Talk to the surgery.

[craft1948]

It's really up to your GP as to whether you can stay or not. I once moved about 10 miles away from mine and they let me stay simply because one of the doctors lived in the same village.

[mike11111]

I doubt it, especially if it is a multi-partner practice. I was with my surgery for 54 years but when I moved 5 miles away I was told that I would have to find another surgery. The excuse was because it was if they ever had to come out to me.

[craft1948]

That's the only reason I could stay mike..............old Dr Platts only lived a street away and said he'd do any call-outs, otherwise I'd have had to change.

[fiftyplusfive]

My daughter moved 25 miles away and when surgery found out (she didn't tell them) they said she had to move.She tried to say she had been with them since before she was born (true) but they still said bye.

[bushbaby_de]

It also depends on if the surgery you want to stay at is in the same Primary Care Trust as the town you move to... I moved only 15 miles but into a different PCT so was forced to change GP just because of that.

[bednobs]

gp surgeries aren't just made up of GP's. what if you needed nursing care? District nurse? community physiotherapy? midwife care? dietician advice?

[SeaJayPea]

Hmm. I thought that would be the case. It is a different PCT and 40 miles is a bit too far for a visit. More thought required.

Thanks for all your quick responses.

[bednobs]

BY THE WAY, YOU COULD ALWAYS JUST NOT TELL THEM YOU HAVE MOVED, however you leave yourself open to the risk of them not being able to contact you if they need to

[bambiboo78]

The rules were changed on this recently, you can stay with the same GP even if you move out of the area, ring & check with your surgery but I'm sure this came into force last year as I remember thinking why would anyone want to..but then I'm young & thankfully never had need for a GP.. good luck

[237SJ]

For 18 years, I stayed with my GP who was 200 miles away. It wasn`t a problem until I had a more urgent problem and decided I might need to be with someone nearer. My NHS dentist is 200 miles away as well.