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Change of Address and New GP Practice

T

t.smith1985

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Hi,

I have Type 1 diabetes so it is essential I have access to a GP practice.

I may be moving into a new area that is outside the catchment area of my current GP practice.

I have heard stories of some GP practices not accepting new patients. I have Type 1 diabetes so not having a GP is simply not an option. Are GP practices legally obliged to accept T1 patients in their catchment area even if they are not accepting new patients?

I am very anxious about this.

Thanks
 
t.smith1985 said:
Are GP practices legally obliged to accept T1 patients in their catchment area even if they are not accepting new patients?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure of the answer, but if you know where you are moving to why don't you make enquiries with the gp practices in the locality now.
 
My son with type 1 moved away from home to uni last summer and was able to register with a new GP in his uni town no problem, just find the nearest surgery to where you are moving to.
 
I live in a moderate size town and there are four surgerys locally (within walking distance) to me and many more besides. Unless you plan to live in an extremely highly populated area or a small village then I do not think you will have any problems and even then I would be very surprised that someone with T1D would have any cause to be denied using a local surgery.
 
Some areas with GP recruitment issues do have closed lists. They are not allowed to discriminate or positively allow any group of patients including diabetics. The best thing is to either call or go online and find out if they are accepting patients. It's not that common at the moment to have a closed list but it is likely to become more so in the future.
 
t.smith1985 said:
Hi,

I have Type 1 diabetes so it is essential I have access to a GP practice.

I may be moving into a new area that is outside the catchment area of my current GP practice.

I have heard stories of some GP practices not accepting new patients. I have Type 1 diabetes so not having a GP is simply not an option. Are GP practices legally obliged to accept T1 patients in their catchment area even if they are not accepting new patients?

I am very anxious about this.

Thanks
Click to expand...


I have changed GP's on a couple of occasions and never encountered any difficulty in doing so. The process is simply a matter of requesting an application form from your new proposed surgery or practice, complete it and you should be registered at your new place in about 10 days. Doctors want to help us and should not and I am sure will not discriminate against you because you are diabetic of any type. They are dealing on a daily basis with people with complaints and conditions of all types. Please do not be anxious. Go and ask them, I am absolutely sure that they will address any concerns you have and allay your fears.
 
I changed surgeries last year.
All it took was a simple online form (available from the surgery's website).
There were no questions about my medical history, ongoing conditions, prescriptions or anything. Simply address details, why I wanted to move surgeries).
When I submitted the forum I was told by the receptionist that I would be put on a waiting list because I already lived in the area, and already had a surgery. If I had been new to the area I would have been automatically accepted, subject to availability of places.

Additionally, our town has a walk in clinic, which anyone can attend, without being registered there. It may be worth checking to see if your new location has one of those, inc ase there is any delay with registration at your new practice.
 
The vast majority of GPs are accepting patients. They cannot refuse a T1.
I have moved every 3 years minimum and been T1 30+ years and never refused.. this time also had just had op for cancer too the day before so they would have given extra reason too.

They have to notify NHS England if they have closed the new patient register, its not an easy decision for them to make or take, so is rarely done in reality, although it is more frequent than it used to be.

Its so easy to ring up and ask. Just be aware that some CCGs like T1's to be dealt with by GP Practice and not hospitals. Do ask if T1's are managed by doctors and nurses or are they also hiven access to endocrinologists... I did have a little bit of trouble getting referred to hospital by my newest gp practice but they did eventually.
 
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