[Vodka_Drinka]

For a while now ive been really unhappy with the service ive received at my GP's surgery. The receptionists are rude and unhelpful, its very difficult to get an appointment even when your feeling really poorly and the two doctors who work there are for want of a better word, useless. They have no beside manner at all, rude and offhand and talk to you like your some hypocondriac whos' faking it. I feel really uncomfertable going there.

I really want to go elsewhere. I'd like to go to the doctors that my Auntie and cousins use. They sound really good, how do I go about chaging to them? Ive had the same doctor since birth and I have no idea how you go about transfering?

[Madge]

You need to contact your chosen surgery and see if they're accepting new patients. If they are, there's a section of your medical card that you fill in and present at the surgery. If you don't have your medical card, there's a form you can get from the surgery to complete. Very simple and painless.

[stickler]

Go in to the doctors you wish to change to, check they are accepting new patients, and fill in a registration form.

If they aren't taking new patients, contact your local primary care trust, explain your problem with your current surgery and ask for the nearest surgery accepting new patients.

I know where you are coming from. I'm still using a drs 16 miles away where I used to live (it's close to work, so not a huge problem) because I haven't got round to changing as I'm a bit worried about what the care will be like. I need to do it by Christmas though.

[Vodka_Drinka]

Originally Posted by Madge

You need to contact your chosen surgery and see if they're accepting new patients. If they are, there's a section of your medical card that you fill in and present at the surgery. If you don't have your medical card, there's a form you can get from the surgery to complete. Very simple and painless.

That's helpful thanks

I have no idea where my medical card is though Would I need to contact my surgery to ask them to forward my records on? I dont really trust them to do this as they are so disorganised.

[Errodiel]

Originally Posted by Vodka_Drinka

That's helpful thanks

I have no idea where my medical card is though Would I need to contact my surgery to ask them to forward my records on? I dont really trust them to do this as they are so disorganised.

Nope, as said just toddle in to the new surgery and say you'd like to register (if they're accepting new patients - check here). They'll sort out the paperwork, and you'll probably have to go in for a quick checkup - weight, urine test for diabetes, that kind of thing.

You also might consider complaining to your PCT about the service at your current GP - they will have a complaints procedure and might be able to do something about it. You can get the number from NHS Direct, or a bit of googling would probably find it too

[MadameLaMinx]

As an aside to this, if the practice you wish to swap to is a practice nearby to the practice you are leaving, you may find that they will refuse to accept you.

They arent supposed to be allowed to do this, but it never stopped them when I applied to a different one within the same area. I should have argued with them about it but I was very low anyway, the GP that had made me want to leave the practice had been HORRIBLE and made me feel totally worthless, and so when I was told by the new practice that they wouldn't accept patients registered with a neighbouring practice I just gave up.

[CJ32]

Originally Posted by MadameLaMinx

As an aside to this, if the practice you wish to swap to is a practice nearby to the practice you are leaving, you may find that they will refuse to accept you.

They arent supposed to be allowed to do this, but it never stopped them when I applied to a different one within the same area. I should have argued with them about it but I was very low anyway, the GP that had made me want to leave the practice had been HORRIBLE and made me feel totally worthless, and so when I was told by the new practice that they wouldn't accept patients registered with a neighbouring practice I just gave up.

Damn. I want to move somewhere that is a bit nearer because I have a horrible GP, too.. I was wondering if it wouldn't really be acceptable to move. Think I'll sit on it for a bit..

[Vodka_Drinka]

Originally Posted by MadameLaMinx

As an aside to this, if the practice you wish to swap to is a practice nearby to the practice you are leaving, you may find that they will refuse to accept you.

They arent supposed to be allowed to do this, but it never stopped them when I applied to a different one within the same area. I should have argued with them about it but I was very low anyway, the GP that had made me want to leave the practice had been HORRIBLE and made me feel totally worthless, and so when I was told by the new practice that they wouldn't accept patients registered with a neighbouring practice I just gave up.

I dont think this other surgery is too close to my current practice so I cant see the problem.

Im really genuinly unhappy with the service I get at present. The whole place is disorganised and badly managed, its so old fashioned. They dont even have an electronic sign in system yet which means you have to queaue for ages to sign in and sometimes you can miss your appointment if they are really busy. Which they often are and the infuriate me by answering the phones when they can see how busy the reception is

[MadameLaMinx]

Originally Posted by CJ32

Damn. I want to move somewhere that is a bit nearer because I have a horrible GP, too.. I was wondering if it wouldn't really be acceptable to move. Think I'll sit on it for a bit..

Don't whatever you do, be deterred by what I said. They aren't allowed to do that - but it seems to be some sort of "gentleman's agreement" (sorry lady GPs) that they won't take one anothers patients away. I can only speak about my local GPs.

If you aren't happy, you are perfectly entitled to request to register elsewhere and should do so. I was just not in the right mental place to argue with them when they turned me down.

[paddysu]

Originally Posted by CJ32

Damn. I want to move somewhere that is a bit nearer because I have a horrible GP, too.. I was wondering if it wouldn't really be acceptable to move. Think I'll sit on it for a bit..

Well if the GP's a bit nearer then thats your reason for also wanting to move.
1st reason the one you want to go to is nearer to wehere you live,
2nd reason your don't like current practice. - they'll always suggest first that you see a different GP at the same practice first which is ok as long as the gp is the problem and not the whole set up.

If it was the other way round and you wanted to change to one further away then you might find problems but noone can say that wanting to move to one closer to where you live can't be considered as a valid reason. It doesn't nec mean that would stick you top of the waiting list if the one your currently at is only another 5 minutes walk away but its a good enough reason for using that as the first reason why you want to change. Then say about not liking the current one. Much better to have on the records reason for change of practice wanted to be nearer to home than couldn't get on with previous GP.

[CJ32]

Originally Posted by paddysu

Well if the GP's a bit nearer then thats your reason for also wanting to move.
1st reason the one you want to go to is nearer to wehere you live,

True, fair enough, thanks. It's a 10 minute walk shorter.

Any chance you could try another one, MadameLaMinx..

[Cstar2229]

Word of warning

Be careful about complaining about GPs

I knew someone who did and they and their whole family got struck off their practice. They would only take them and/or their family back if the complainer apologised.

Needless to say, they didn't apologise and they found a practice nearby but they felt like lepers when explaining why they had registered with them when there was a practice nearer to them.

I think it is disgusting as there are some good and some very bad GPs out there. You should not feel worried about complaining about them.

[Errodiel]

Originally Posted by Cstar2229

Word of warning

Be careful about complaining about GPs

I knew someone who did and they and their whole family got struck off their practice. They would only take them and/or their family back if the complainer apologised.

Needless to say, they didn't apologise and they found a practice nearby but they felt like lepers when explaining why they had registered with them when there was a practice nearer to them.

I think it is disgusting as there are some good and some very bad GPs out there. You should not feel worried about complaining about them.

The family should have complained about that to their PCT! No way on earth should a GP be able to get away with that kind of behaviour, IMO - it's tantamount to blackmail. Using your family's health to make you withdraw a legitimate complaint is ridiculous.

[smelly jem]

I had to change my docs surgery a few years ago , I did this because I was 14 weeks pregnant and I was being brushed off with regards to seeing a midwife.

As others have said it is as simple as walking into your chosen surgery , asking if they are taking new patients then filling in a form and making an appointment.

You seem to have good reason to change your doctor and I hope it goes smoothly for you.

Good luck.

[Lippincote]

^^ what jem said.

It is easy to change your GP and you do not have to give a reason. In fact it is better NOT to start off by complaining to the new surgery about your current GP or they may be a little wary - better to use the official routes to complain. It doesn't necessarily cause problems, my mother made an official complaint about her GP who repeatedly failed to diagnose a serious illness and was accepted by the new surgery with no problem.

Our surgery is still in the dark ages too, no electronic sign in - but in our case you never miss an appointment waiting to sign in because the GP is always running half an hour late anyway

[McDancin' Feet]

Originally Posted by MadameLaMinx

As an aside to this, if the practice you wish to swap to is a practice nearby to the practice you are leaving, you may find that they will refuse to accept you.

They arent supposed to be allowed to do this, but it never stopped them when I applied to a different one within the same area. I should have argued with them about it but I was very low anyway, the GP that had made me want to leave the practice had been HORRIBLE and made me feel totally worthless, and so when I was told by the new practice that they wouldn't accept patients registered with a neighbouring practice I just gave up.

Similar thing happened to me. Lovely new building opened last year containing GPs that should have retired years ago! Last month I tried to change to a GP surgery that was recommended to me. At first the receptionist said I was outside the boundary, when I queried this, she then admitted "well, actually you're not outside the boundary, but one of the doctors is on holiday and we don't take new patients on when a doctor is on holiday". She told me I should register at the new building. I told her I already was but wanted to move. She told me to come back at the end of the month. I haven't been back because she so clearly was not going to allow me to register.

I've looked on government websites and according to the information there you can register at any surgery as long as you are in the catchment area.

Except of course if you have battle axe receptionists who decide you should register somewhere else and make up the rules as they go along.

[Jayma]

Originally Posted by Vodka_Drinka

I dont think this other surgery is too close to my current practice so I cant see the problem.

Im really genuinly unhappy with the service I get at present. The whole place is disorganised and badly managed, its so old fashioned. They dont even have an electronic sign in system yet which means you have to queaue for ages to sign in and sometimes you can miss your appointment if they are really busy. Which they often are and the infuriate me by answering the phones when they can see how busy the reception is:mad:

I know that must be really frustrating when you're waiting in a queue but the reason they have to answer the phone is to see whether the person on the other end is in a life or death situation.

If you have someone with chest pain phoning, but you're not picking up the phone because you're welcoming people into the reception while the person on the phone is suffering with a heart attack, then obviously the situation could end badly for that person.

Having said that, the service you are receiving must be poor if they are taking so long to book the patients in that the appointments are being missed. A good receptionist will quickly screen the patients if there's a long queue forming and ask those with a query that is going to take longer to sit down so they can quickly book in those who have appointments. Then deal with the longer queries.

[Vodka_Drinka]

Originally Posted by Jayma

I know that must be really frustrating when you're waiting in a queue but the reason they have to answer the phone is to see whether the person on the other end is in a life or death situation.

If you have someone with chest pain phoning, but you're not picking up the phone because you're welcoming people into the reception while the person on the phone is suffering with a heart attack, then obviously the situation could end badly for that person.

Having said that, the service you are receiving must be poor if they are taking so long to book the patients in that the appointments are being missed. A good receptionist will quickly screen the patients if there's a long queue forming and ask those with a query that is going to take longer to sit down so they can quickly book in those who have appointments. Then deal with the longer queries.

Thats fair enough. But what kind of clown would phone a surgery if they had chest pains? You'd either ring 999 or go straight to A&E yourself!! I dont believe this is the real reason at all, I have rung them myself and either have to wait ages for them to answer or have been spoken to rudely and told I have to wait up to a fortnight for an appointment without them even asking my symptoms!

My doctor also hardly ever seems to be there. Its always some locum who doesnt know me or my family's medical history.

I actually sugested getting an electronic sign in at the desk last time and they looked at me like I was insane.

[lubby forever]

Originally Posted by Vodka_Drinka

Thats fair enough. But what kind of clown would phone a surgery if they had chest pains? You'd either ring 999 or go straight to A&E yourself!! I dont believe this is the real reason at all, I have rung them myself and either have to wait ages for them to answer or have been spoken to rudely and told I have to wait up to a fortnight for an appointment without them even asking my symptoms!

My doctor also hardly ever seems to be there. Its always some locum who doesnt know me or my family's medical history.

I actually sugested getting an electronic sign in at the desk last time and they looked at me like I was insane.

You'd be surprised how many people do that, particularly older people. Does sound like a crap service there.

If a surgery is accepting patients they can not refuse to take you on unless you are out of area.

[jabegy]

I changed surgeries some time ago, because the doctor we always saw had retired and the new one was a complete and utter bitch ! she made me feel about 2 inches tall, when I'd gone in thinking I might have irritable bowel. I'm not the sort of person who feels the need to go to the doctor a lot, so it wasn't as if I'd been making a nuisance of myself.

The surgery we are now with, didn't at first want to take us, seeing as we were already registered with a doctor in our area, but fortunately for me, we already knew our doctor as we'd been his and his wifes cleaners for some time, even though we'd retired from cleaning. I just phoned him up and he told me not to worry, to leave it all to him, and hey presto! we've been with him a few years now. He's lovely, he listens, he takes time to explain things clearly and he has a knack of getting you to tell him things you wouldn't automatically have said.

[Meanbugger]

Originally Posted by McDancin' Feet

Similar thing happened to me. Lovely new building opened last year containing GPs that should have retired years ago! Last month I tried to change to a GP surgery that was recommended to me. At first the receptionist said I was outside the boundary, when I queried this, she then admitted "well, actually you're not outside the boundary, but one of the doctors is on holiday and we don't take new patients on when a doctor is on holiday". She told me I should register at the new building. I told her I already was but wanted to move. She told me to come back at the end of the month. I haven't been back because she so clearly was not going to allow me to register.

I've looked on government websites and according to the information there you can register at any surgery as long as you are in the catchment area.

Except of course if you have battle axe receptionists who decide you should register somewhere else and make up the rules as they go along.

Not every doctors receptionist is a battle axe, maybe just yours! Some of us are actually quite nice and are more than happy to go over and above to organise what a patient requires.

[Vodka_Drinka]

Originally Posted by jabegy

I changed surgeries some time ago, because the doctor we always saw had retired and the new one was a complete and utter bitch ! she made me feel about 2 inches tall, when I'd gone in thinking I might have irritable bowel. I'm not the sort of person who feels the need to go to the doctor a lot, so it wasn't as if I'd been making a nuisance of myself.

The surgery we are now with, didn't at first want to take us, seeing as we were already registered with a doctor in our area, but fortunately for me, we already knew our doctor as we'd been his and his wifes cleaners for some time, even though we'd retired from cleaning. I just phoned him up and he told me not to worry, to leave it all to him, and hey presto! we've been with him a few years now. He's lovely, he listens, he takes time to explain things clearly and he has a knack of getting you to tell him things you wouldn't automatically have said.

My doctor is like this. I have a bladder condition. Well I say condition, nothing has ever been diagnosed Its been going on for years, since I was in my early teens. You'd think it would be investigated correctly but apart from being sent for a kidney x ray about four years ago (which came back clear) nothing has been done. Instead he pumps me full of anti biotics, which are useless because my urine samples show up as being sterile and have no traces of infection in them.

I'd like to see a urololgist. But I dare not mention it to him. When I walk into his room he looks at me as if to say "oh its her again".....

[stormin norm]

Originally Posted by MadameLaMinx

Don't whatever you do, be deterred by what I said. They aren't allowed to do that - but it seems to be some sort of "gentleman's agreement" (sorry lady GPs) that they won't take one anothers patients away. I can only speak about my local GPs.

If you aren't happy, you are perfectly entitled to request to register elsewhere and should do so. I was just not in the right mental place to argue with them when they turned me down.

I have encountered that too the first time I swapped surgeries, however there is a way round it. Contact your local patient services and request to be removed from your GP surgery list, Once that is done you're free to register at any practice which is taking on new patients.

Usually though switching is very straightforward, I've done it twice in the last few years

[Jayma]

Originally Posted by Meanbugger

Not every doctors receptionist is a battle axe, maybe just yours! Some of us are actually quite nice and are more than happy to go over and above to organise what a patient requires.

Very true! Ours are very accommodating.

Although I hope your forum username doesn't appear on your ID badge!