There’s no doubt that moving house can be daunting. With so many things to organise and remember, it’s easy to forget the little things – including completing your NHS change of address and registering with a new GP.
Not to worry, though, in this guide we’ll explain whether you need to switch GP when moving house or whether you can stick with your existing practice.
Whatever you do, don’t leave sorting out your healthcare at your new home until the last minute. You really don’t want to be left without a doctor to visit if you need one.
Do You Need to Change GP When Moving House?
If you’re moving house, you might be confused about whether you need to change doctors or whether you can stick with the one you already have. Well, the answer to this question largely depends on your individual circumstances.
If you’re moving to a new home, but are staying in the same catchment area of your existing GP, you don’t have to switch doctors if you don’t want to. As long as your current doctor agrees to continue treating and visiting you at your new address, you can stick with them.
However, while it is possible to keep the same GP when moving within the same catchment area, there are a number of reasons why this might not be the best idea:
- You might want to register with a more convenient GP surgery (e.g. closer to school or work)
- Your current GP may provide particularly good service
- You might not want to go through the hassle of switching doctors
It is important to bear in mind, though, that your existing doctor could refuse your continuing registration, for example, if it is too far away from your new home and you will require home visits.
How Do You Change GP?
If you’re moving to a completely new area that’s nowhere near your previous doctors, you will need to switch, and here’s how…
If you already know which GP surgery you’d like to register with, and you’ve checked that they’re accepting new patients, the process of switching should be fairly simple. All you need to do is register with your chosen GP and arrange for your medical records to be transferred over from your previous surgery.
If you’re not 100% sure which GP surgery you’d like to switch to, you should take a look at all your options – see what each has to offer and how they compare to each other. You should note that some GPs offer services that others don’t. So do your research!
Once you’ve decided on a new doctor’s surgery, simply ask for a registration form, fill it out and hand it back. All that’s left to do now is wait for them to transfer all your medical records over.
How Long Does it Take to Switch GP?
You might be slightly reluctant to change doctors when moving house because you think it’ll take time and effort you don’t have. However, you’ll be pleased to hear that it really doesn’t take very long at all.
The process of switching GP surgeries will only take around seven working days to complete, as long as all your registration forms and ID documentation is submitted correctly.
In most cases, though, requests to register with a new GP are treated as high priority and will be transferred within just two working days – especially if your medical records are electronic.
How Much Does it Cost to Switch GP?
As mentioned, the process for switching GP when moving house is super quick and simple, and so shouldn’t be missed off your to-do list. And, to make the process even less hassle, it’s completely free to do.