If you want to change your GP?

[Old Salt]

How does one go about it? My GP of thirty years is leaving the practice and the GP's that remain are very young and I would prefer a more experienced Doctor to treat my family.

Can I just find a local GP that is taking on new patients, and ask him to take us onto his books?

I don't have any complaint against the current practice.

Sure could use some ideas and guidance.

Ancient Mariner

[Old Salt]

Sure sounds 'too' easy EDDIE51

These days of computers and processes, officialdom usually insists on us jumping through numerous hoops, at various times, in various ways - all predetermined by them.

Thanks for the quick and extremely useful response, which advice I shall pursue in the morning

Old Salt

[toby99]

Hi, yes it is as easy as that. You just go to the practice of choice and fill in a form and the rest is done for you. However, as Old Salt said you will have to check if they are accepting new patients though.

My GP will only take new patients moving in from outside the area and will not take those who wish to transfer from one local GP to another. If you find this is the case you can ring the Health Authority or PCT and ask them to allocate you to another Practice, but they usually allocate to any practice in your immediate area and not by request. You may be lucky and get the practice of your choice (or get a nice member of staff who will listen to your preference and act outside protocol!)

[Old Salt]

Very helpful toby99

Several people have told me that I may have to take pot-luck

I sure hope I can find a friendly GP willing to take me my family

Old Salt

[beejaybee]

My Gp was elderly & due for retirement .When I went to see him about a problem he made me feel as if it was "all in my mind". I suffered in silence for a few months & when the new doctor arrived I made an appointment to see him. He assured me that I was imagining things , put me on a course of treatment & within weeks I was back to normal. The problem was menopause at 29 years old. The "old" doctor was still going according to the" book" & I was too young. It might be a good idea to give the younger ones a chance as they will be more up to date with things.

[beejaybee]

Ps. Should have read NOT imaging things.

[Old Salt]

I see your logic beejaybee

But, as with everything in life, "One must choose horses for courses."

Thank you for the response

Old Salt

[Mr Veritas]

Old Salt it IS as easy as evryone says to change your GP.
Under NHS rules if the new GP has patient space on their books they are obliged to take you.
You don't even have to tell your old GP.
Tne new one just requests your records and it's done.
I (at age 80) did this 6 years ago because I wasn't happy with my GP.
He was treating me as if I was demented.So I registered with a new (female) GP,and she is great.
JUst do it Old Salt,don't be scared.

[Old Salt]

I am making a list Mr Veritas

And checking it twice..............Will discuss it with Mrs AM

and will then go by the numbers, until I get one----I sure can't do any worse than how the current Dr's have worked things.

I too am not pleased with my current surgery. They have had almost two complete turnovers, including owners, in the past four years.

Thanks for the response

Ancient Mariner

[ACtheTROLL]

salt - why not give the guy a chance?

just because your old doctor uses those nice sqishy leeches all the time doesn't mean that the new guy won't have a better idea

horses for courses are fine if you only want to be dropped at the knackers yard ... to go past it you need something with a spring in it's step

twice now I've been "saved" by nippers willing to take a punt at problems my speciallist was treating by the numbers.

both times they were justified by the outcomes ...

makes me wonder if safe and sure is quite as safe as you think - the safe way has ruined my thyroid - the punt is unlikely to save it ... but it's slowed things dramatically and the change in treatment agrees with me far better...

[Old Salt]

Food for thought, ACtheTROLL

Thanks for the response

Old Salt

[scotman]

Obviously I don't know where you live. You may find that GP practices have a physical limit on the distance from your address to the surgery. It is to do with the practicalities of home visits. Other that that it is down to space on their lists.