Moved house but have pending endo appointment in October.

[Jonnyseven]

Hi,

Was just wondering if any of you have been in a similar situation. I've moved about 30 miles from where I'm currently registered with a GP. If I now register with a new surgery, would this affect my appointment with the endocrinologist? I don't mind the travelling back for the appointment if it means I don't have to start the whole process of being referred through another GP. Should I just not bother transferring surgeries yet?

[Valerie0106]

I am in a similar position but moving further and to a new Health Authority. I think this is probably the important part rather than the new GP....? So if you remain under the same authority I don’t think there would be a problem.

[Anthea55]

I was looking this up for my daughter who has moved recently. See this NHS page about registering with a GP outside your area.

nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/reg...

Extract. "Since 2015, all GP practices in England have been free to register new patients who live outside their practice boundary area. This means you can register with a GP practice somewhere that's more convenient for you, such as a practice near your work or closer to your children's schools. "

The way I read it you can register with a GP outside the GP's area if the GP agrees, so maybe you can stay with your original GP until a more convenient time. Probably first thing is to talk to your current GP.

[Jazzw in reply to Anthea55]

While that’s the guidance, many GPs don’t seem to abide by it. When my father moved to a village just a few miles away, his GP practice told him he’d have to leave their practice and find a nearer one - even though he still works in the town where the old practice is. They were quite insistent, telling him the waiting list for their surgery was in a high catchment area and they couldn’t justify it. That appears to be their get out from the guidance.

Not great, because my Dad got on really well with his old doctor, had been registered at that practice for the majority of his adult life and had been having weekly visits with the practice nurse. Where he is now, both doctors don’t seem to care and it’s impossible to see either of them face to face.

[Anthea55 in reply to Jazzw]

The GP practice is allowed to do that, if you read further down the page.

"These arrangements are voluntary for GP practices. If the practice has no capacity at the time, or feels it is not clinically appropriate or practical for you to be registered so far away from home, they can still refuse registration. The practice should explain to you their reason for refusing your registration."

I think that before 2015 he would have had to change practice.

There's also a link on that page about choosing your hospital.

[suetatt68]

Hi, I moved from Nottingham to Leicester while I was waiting for surgery on my spine and it didn’t affect it at all. I had further surgery a couple of years later and I was still operated on in Nottingham.

[Jonnyseven]

Thanks for the replies, I'll probably just hold off telling them for now in that case. I still have ties to the area so visit fairly regularly anyhow. I just don't want to jeopardise the appointment by telling them I've moved as could be a very long wait and even that would depend on a new surgery referring me at all.

[Pixielula]

Three years ago I moved from Wellington to wales, I still have my gastroenterologist app at Taunton hospital. I was told at the time I can choose any consultant I want so I chose to stay with Taunton hospital. I did however have to change GP’s..... I hope this helps

[radd]

Jonnyseven,

I don't think your move will make any difference because your referral was accepted and you are now on that endos waiting list/under his care. We can choose any health authority we wish to receive our treatment.

We are also suppose to be able choose which GP's surgery we use but with GP's low on the ground, too many patients and rules such as 'catchment areas' we often just have to use our nearest.

[Jonnyseven in reply to radd]

Thanks for the explanation , that's what I was hoping and makes me feel more confident about my situation.