Moving house. Can I keep my GP?

[Wildcat45]

I suspect the answer will be no...

I have a fantastic family doctor and a rare thing, a great GP practice.

I am probably moving 14 miles away. From what I've read, the local GP practices aren't a patch on our present practice.

We'll be spending most of our work time close to our present GP surgery so it would actually be more convenient to stay there.

Is it possible, or will we have to change doctors?

[sherman]

Ask your doctor what area they cover. If your rural you might get to stay. If its urban then no chance.

[tonyvid]

Almost certainly no, I tried this when I moved a few years ago and "was out of area". NHS dentists are ok though, if you have one of those!

[Wildcat45]

sherman said:

Ask your doctor what area they cover. If your rural you might get to stay. If its urban then no chance.

Moving from urban to semi-rural.

[bigpriest]

It's between you and your GP - they will be discouraged from keeping patients outside their area by NHS England as it causes some issues for Out of Hours visits but if they are happy they can keep you on their NHS list, or if they have one, and you agree, a private list. If your GP retires, the arrangement may not be kept by the new GP and you will be asked to register elsewhere.

[sherman]

Wildcat45 said:

sherman said:

Ask your doctor what area they cover. If your rural you might get to stay. If its urban then no chance.

Moving from urban to semi-rural.

Put your new postcode or town in here and see if your current gp comes up. It will give you all of the available GPs in that area.

https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-GP

[Wildcat45]

sherman said:

Put your new postcode or town in here and see if your current gp comes up. It will give you all of the available GPs in that area.

https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-GP

Thanks for that. I'll check it out

[Wildcat45]

Blimey, the postcode has a wide catchment area but sadly my surgery isn't listed. Despite my present GP being physically closer -or indeed the same distance - as some on the list.

My GP has another 10 years until he retires. I've been with the practice since 1982. They're a super outfit.

What if I just didn't tell them I moved?

[Phil Dicky]

Wildcat45 said:

Blimey, the postcode has a wide catchment area but sadly my surgery isn't listed. Despite my present GP being physically closer -or indeed the same distance - as some on the list.

My GP has another 10 years until he retires. I've been with the practice since 1982. They're a super outfit.

What if I just didn't tell them I moved?

It's what I've done.

[sherman]

Wildcat45 said:

Blimey, the postcode has a wide catchment area but sadly my surgery isn't listed. Despite my present GP being physically closer -or indeed the same distance - as some on the list.

My GP has another 10 years until he retires. I've been with the practice since 1982. They're a super outfit.

What if I just didn't tell them I moved?

It only becomes a problem when they want to send you a letter. I didnt change for a year after moving 5 miles away. They found out when they sent me a letter and at my next appointment told me I had 2 weeks to change or they were taking me off the books.

[Slowboathome]

I looked into this when I moved house. It is possible, but your current GP need to be happy with the arrangement. The link below gives more detail.

https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/gp-pract...

In the end, I registered with a new practice when I moved. I found local Facebook groups very helpful in identifying which practices to avoid.