GP practices are within their rights to force you to move to a new GP practice, they have to be able to draw a line somewhere. But it can be upsetting moving to a new GP particularly if you have had the same one for a long time.
If you are moving house and not moving far then staying with your GP shouldn’t be a problem. You should always ask your GP if they are willing to continue treating you. The reason you need to notify your GP practice of an address move is your doctor will need to assure the integrated care board (ICB) that they are willing to visit and treat you.
You could try popping in and talking directly to your practice and as long as you are not too far away they might keep you on. It is generally up to your GP, but if you have a particularly good relationship with them they may be willing to make an exception.
If you opt to change your address we have written a handy guide for how to change your address with the NHS.
What Should I Do If I Really Want To Stay With My GP?
The best thing to do is to have an open discussion with your practice, you can give your reasons why you want to stay with your GP. Honesty is the best policy in these situations and they may be willing to help you, especially if you have long-term mental or physical health issues.
Moving house can be very stressful, and your GP will understand that so they may even be willing to let you stay with them on a short-term basis.
Remaining with your GP will depend on effective communication and the same can be said about an effective house move. Contact our removals experts today at Brycelands Removals and Storage and our removals experts can help you plan for your move.
