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GP deregistering us, please help!

NAS75292

I am at my whits end with our GP practice manager, we moved house last year and are now less than 3 miles out of the direct catchment for our gp surgery, I have been a patient there for 30years my children who also have diagnosis have both been registered since birth (10 and 15) last year when I updated our address I got a letter saying we were being deregistered I made a complaint with the support of the adult autism team and they agreed to let us remain as patients today out of the blue I have had a letter stating we are once again being deregistered and I have 10 days to find a new gp. I have again complained explaining that both myself and my children need continuity of care and for my son in particular who has complex medical needs this is unacceptable. My son is currently awaiting surgery and this situation is not straight forward. 

The practice manager has rejected my complaint stating the surgery would be unable to provide us with emergency medical care, I have never in 30yrs had a home visit or even requested one and they are fully aware of this! 
I have physical health issues and can not cope with the added strain of trying to find and explain all 3 of our situations to someone new, I spoke to the autism team again today and they have written to our gp to ask to allow us to remain. 
who can I go to for additional support with this? Please help! 

  • I’m sorry - they’ve messed you about by raising your hopes like that and then saying you can’t remain with them. That’s been badly handled for sure. I have no idea if you can do anything about it - but what I would like to add is this: if this really is unavoidable try to bear in mind that the new Practice might be excellent and in time you might be perfectly happy with the service they provide. I know it’s hard to have a change forced on you (I and my family would find this too) - but if you can’t change it then the best thing for your mental and physical health is to try to accept it and be optimistic that the service the new doctor offers will be good. It might even be better than the ‘old’ doctors practice. Judging by the way they’ve handled this (without much sensitivity by the sound of it) you might be better off without them. So if it’s unavoidable try to accept it and be at peace with it - because feeling angry and aggrieved is not good for your health and well being. I’m sorry - I know it’s not easy. Remember that phrase ‘give me the grace to accept the things I cannot change and  the wisdom to know…..’ - I can’t remember it properly! Basically: if you really can’t change something then stop wearing yourself out on a battle you can’t actually win! It sounds like you’re doing all you can in the meantime to find out what’s possible - so I wish you luck. 

  • I'm sorry to hear that you are in this situation and it's causing you stress, but as  said, they unfortunately don't have to accept patients outside their catchment area. 

    Your medical records will all be transferred to your new GP, so I'm not sure why you feel that you will have to explain your and your children's situations to someone new? When you register with a new surgery there is also space on the form to tell them about existing health conditions. Perhaps the adult autism team, who helped you try to stay with your current health centre, could write to your new GP on your behalf to explain your situation?

    I hope you get things sorted out satisfactorily.

  • Unfortunately you don't really have any rights there as they don't have to register a patient who is not in their catchment area. GPs can register out of area patients if they like but it is optional for them.

    Have you spoken to your local Healthwatch organisation? They might be able to help advocate for you given the circumstances, but I wouldn't get your hopes up.