How easy is it to change GP's?

I'm not at all happy with the health centre i'm currently registered at. Seriously, they have done nothing right at all so far where my heath and sanity has been concered. I want to un-register from them and re-register somewhere else.
Eh, I have no idea how to go about doing this, but I searched for other GP's close to me and there seem to be quite a few. They talk about health checks and things like that though - I've never been through anything like that before :confused:

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Anyone have any advice? Anything I need to think about, do or consider before I phone up another GP's and ask them if I can just start seeing them instead.

Reply 1

Louenn

As around before changing, go to somewhere that people you know recommend.

Then, walk into said surgery, and ask about registering, and make an appointment. They'll give you a form to fill in and bring back, and a sample pot.

The health check is straight-forward, they just want to know about allergies, repeat precriptions, etc, and check things like height, weight, blood pressure, and want a urine sample (basically to check you're not pregnant and I think sugar levels for diabetes). It's an appointment with a nurse and will be over in 10 minutes.

Reply 2

zain88

1

I think you just go to a new GP and ask to be registered. They need the details of your old GP so your file can be sent over, and then your old GP automatically knows you are not with them anymore.

I think the health check the new GP will do is just so they have your latest details on their records. It's basic stuff like your height, weight, etc.

This is what I learnt from when I did work experience at my GP's.

Things to consider might be what system the GP uses to see patients; it could be an open clinic where you can just come in and ask to see the doctor and you usually have to wait a while in the waiting room (my GP works like this) or whether you always need an appointment. Also, whether it's one GP or several, and if you'd be registered with just one of the GPs or would any of them attend to you when you visited. If there are several GPs ask whether you have the choice to always see one of them. It might also be useful if they had their own nurse in the clinic. I'm not sure if all clinics do but mine does, and it makes it easier because you don't need to go to hospital for little things because he/she can just do them in the clinic, like some special tests etc.

Reply 3

Adarah

OP

16

Thanks Louenn and Zain! That's really helpful! Again, thanks a lot! I got a bit worried about that test and all, hehehe. And that's a good point about what kind of clinic it is - walk in or appointment. The one I'm currently at does do both, but you can only use the walk in one realistically, as - and I am being dead serious here- if you want an appointment because you have the flu they let you wait a month if they are busy. :-|
But walk in is only in emergency, so if you try walk in with a flu they tell you get lost.
Hehehe, which is why I want to change, so I will make sure I find out what GPs actually let you make appointments etc.

Thanks again!
xxx

Reply 4

tbm

13

Ive changed GPs a couple of times in the last few years and never had any problems- just go into your chosen one and ask if you can register, some of them have restrictions though about where you live- for example the Uni one I was at said I had to leave as I moved house like a mile up the road- which I thought was really unfair!! Some say you have to live within a certain distance within the surgery to be able to register. They'll just get you to fill in a form, then you'll need to make an appointment for a first 'check up' which is usually with the nurse, then you're fully registered.

Reply 5

Adarah

OP

16

Thanks Joystar! The ones I've been looking at are all further away from where I live than my current one (which is opposite where I live in some temporary containers on the now obviouly ex tennis court, lol). Hopefully they aren't too far away. :smile:

Reply 6

tbm

13

Adarah

Thanks Joystar! The ones I've been looking at are all further away from where I live than my current one (which is opposite where I live in some temporary containers on the now obviouly ex tennis court, lol). Hopefully they aren't too far away. :smile:

I think it really depends what sort of area you live in- for example when I was at school my surgery was 7 miles away and served all of the little villages, just because it was the only one!! I live in a huge city now and theres surgeries everywhere- so I think they have to prioritise their patients in terms of who lives the closest. Hopefully you shouldnt have any problems!! :smile:

If they wont take you on then they'll give you the address of a surgery that will anyway.

Reply 7

Tarts_n_Vicars

13

Your local Health Authority will have a list of GPs who are taking new patients....depending on where you're living finding one who actually has space for you can be a problem! And you just fill in a little form when you get there, have a health screening/check up with the nurse et voila you've changed docs.

How easy is it to change GP's?

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