Changing one's GP

[661-Pete]

This is something I've never done - other than for obvious reasons like relocation. In fact I've been registered at the same practice for 35 years now.
But I'm seriously considering a change - to a different practice in the same town. With some misgivings. I don't want to be too explicit here.
The actual procedure appears to be fairly straightforward, as set out here. You don't, apparently, have to give any reason - nor to notify your current GP.
I believe I have valid reasons, but I'm worried about repercussions.
Who on here has gone on this path, and what advice can they offer?

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
No repercussions.
Painless, my docs from birth at home, for over 50 years, same practice but the doctors just retired one at a time, then I did not like the replacement, (single doctor practice)
I even specify what doctor at new practice I don't want to see.
Don't worry..........unless they wanted rid of you...probably not.

[Psamathe]

I've very nearly done the same in the past and considered "repercussions" and I came to the conclusion that there might (for me) be "implications" rather than "repercussions".

I suspect a lot depends on where you live and how well covered you are by alternatives. In my case I have only two practices within the geographical "rules" that seem to apply so were I to change and the new practice turned out to be worse then I really have jumped "out of the frying pan, into the fire" with no "Plan B".

You can check the NHS practice reviews (both patient reviews and service quality reviews):
For the Care Quality Commission Checks http://www.cqc.org.uk/content/monitoring-gp-practices and enter your town in the search box near the top.
For NHS patient reviews http://www.nhs.uk/service-search/. However, be aware that Practices "doctor" (no pun intended) these reviews. When a practice is recruiting new GPs, there is apparently such a shortage of GPs that applicants can pick and chose and before they even attend an interview for a vacancy they check this site and the patient reviews and bad ratings/reviews and they wont even bother to go to the interview (what GPs want to work in a rubbish practice?). So I know on one practice which had only 2 or 3 reviews, most bad and they had to recruit several GPs so put out a "call" (through the parish magazine) explaining the impact of bad reviews on recruitment and asking if people were happy with their service if they could write a review to reflect their experiences. Short time later their practice had exceptional reviews with 200+ top ratings and "excellent" comments. So the reviews might need "interpreting".

I also reflected a lot on the underlying reasons why I was intending to change - basically I was not happy with the GPs. I hung on (I hardly ever see them anyway) and they got a new GP and I was assigned to him and he turned out to be excellent - so some problems can turn around very quickly. Another practice I have experience of (family member) has one good GP and several not so good GPs so they requested they be assigned to the GP they got on with and mostly managed it (as most of their appointments are for routine stuff booked in advance).

Have you tried other GPs in your current practice (if that is affecting your wish to move). I rarely see any GP but when I was considering changing practice I did try other GPs at my own practice 1st (over a long period given how rarely I see them). It was pretty easy, they always have a long wait (common I expect) so when calling for an appointment and they said "Your GP earliest appointment ... 2 weeks"; I'd say how I don't need to see my assigned GP and did any other GPs have earlier appointments; they'd say Dr X could see you sooner and if I already knew about that GP I'd say no, who else ... (and such comments didn't even register with reception and I was at the point where I didn't really care too much anyway).

Ian

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
I does make difference if the practices are small and only two of them.
I moved to a new because I could park outside and the chemist was in the same building, I thought as I have had much experience with NHS couldn't get worse and added bonus as already mentioned.

TBH I did see several GP's at old practice and they were trying new ideas, but after getting a space in car park which was always difficult as it was a house in town, the last straw was getting blocked in more than once by mumies picking up jack from school, so they just dump the car

Turned out I could then at new practice pick and choose, not so easy if you are out in the sticks.

[Vantage]

Due to relocation within the same town, I've changed practices twice in 30 years.
The first wasn't too bad. Ended up with a brilliant doc in a small but warm and friendly practice and he took good care of me for over 7 years.
The latest change is one I regret and wish I'd kept my big gob shut about moving. Current GP and practice are very 'clinical' (excuse the pun) and seem more concerned about improving their scores rather than their patients health.
Practices in my experience cover certain areas within their towns/cities and they'll check that when you do the application. You'll be declined if you live outside their catchment area. It'll take a few weeks or more to get your medical records transferred but from my experience, you can see either GP until the change is complete.
Just watch you don't end up with someone worse than the doc you have.

[661-Pete]

Thanks for the tips guys.

I should perhaps explain a bit more. This is not a leap into the unknown that I'm contemplating. For many years my wife and I have been registered at different practices. This came about because our original practice relocated to a new surgery further away from our house than the original. My wife preferred not to have to travel the extra distance, so she transferred to the practice which had moved into the old premises. I, on the other hand, preferred to stay with the doctor whom I'd been regularly seeing, every six months mainly for BP checkups and heart monitoring (I have family history). And with whom I got along just fine.

But that doctor of mine has now retired, and I have to admit I don't see eye to eye with his replacement. So my idea now is to transfer to the same practice as my wife. It's a practice with four doctors: my wife has seen two of them and says they're pretty good. Of course I may be assigned to one of the others - so it's still pot luck. Maybe I can choose when registering?

I should add that on one occasion I went to a different doctor than the one I usually see, in the same practice. I made up some story about my usual doctor not having a free slot on the day that suited me, or some such. But I felt uncomfortable and didn't fare much better.

I've been thinking about this for some time now and won't rush into things. But will probably do so before my next 6-monthly.

[Psamathe]

...It's a practice with four doctors: my wife has seen two of them and says they're pretty good. Of course I may be assigned to one of the others - so it's still pot luck. Maybe I can choose when registering?...

I suspect different practices differ but it is certainly possible. One family member (married) ended up assigned to a different GP in the same practice as their partner and asked to be changed so they both had the same GP (of course that was the "good one") - and they were switched as per their request. You could always ask the practice before changing. e.g. "My wife and I are currently registered at different practices which is a nuisance and I'd like to change to yourselves but this only makes sense if we can both be registered with the same GP (or even both be registered with Dr <x>); would this be possible ?"

If they say "no, (s)he is full" then you know where you stand, if they say "yes" you know where you stand and they are unlikely to start questioning how it would "be a nuisance being registered with different GPs" (i.e. that is just more of an excuse than anything else that they would never question).

I suspect that even asking to switch to a different GP within the same practice is unlikely to be questioned as to "why?" because if you answer your answer might be something they may have to act on. I suspect that most of the time they will accommodate your request if possible; ask why and you answer "because my current GP is useless and I'm not happy with him/her" and they might have to register a complaint or register some dissatisfaction or pass the request/comment to the practice manager, etc. - they'd probably rather just do it if it is possible and avoid any potential other issues.

Ian

[Flinders]

I don't think I have ever sen the GP I am registered with. It's a big practice, and I have found one I like and trust and ask to see her. It can mean waiting weeks for a routine appointment and ringing up/logging in day after day without success as the refuse to book more than a fortnight in advance and she is popular. Time before last it took me five weeks, last time after five weeks and still no joy I managed to get a phone call, which was enough.
Emergencies get seen on the day, but it is pot luck who you see.

I always wonder why the practice doesn't tackle the clear problems indicated by the fact that some GPs often have plenty of spare appointments and others, sometimes even newer staff who don't have established patients, don't. It ought to be a big red warning that the ones who are often 'free' need to look at their ways of working. It's not that the one I prefer hands out antibiotics like sweeties or is a soft touch or anything, BTW.

[AMMoffat]

I've never seen the GP in my practice I've been assigned to though, to be fair, the practice only assigned a specific GP to patients a couple of years ago. When I need to book an appointment I ask for my preferred GP, then my preference list in order until I get one who can offer an appointment most quickly. I'm lucky in my practice that an appointment can usually be had the same day. In fact you can't really book appointments ahead as they operate a 1st come 1st served same day system, though I expect if you were about to expire an appointment would be prioritised. My preferred GP has said to me in the past that he would expect the same level of care to be provided whichever GP I see and that has been the case up to now.

If I were changing practice I'd attach equal importance to liking the GP and choosing a practice where I don't have to wait weeks for an appointment though I realise such practices are becoming increasingly rare.

[JMW15]

I'd just repeat what others have said, Need to make sure you are happy with the practice you are going to and how it is set up (environment, availability of appointments etc) and not just because a single GP is good. Unfortunately GP's are being more transient and I it is becoming less likely that you will have the same GP for many years.

Although this may sound obvious, I also wouldn't go in bad mouthing previous GPs when you register with the new ones. By all means mention your concerns with them, but do it in a non-blaming way!

You'd be surprised the number of people who come in complaining about Dr 'X', always a good way to get peoples backs up!