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"Registering with a GP practice"

About: NHS Lothian

(as the patient),

I have recently moved house and I have finally (after three attempts to update my new address on to their system, by phone, in person and on their website) received a letter telling me that I am no longer in their 'catchment' area so need to register with another GP. I checked the NHS website to see which GP surgery is nearest to my new address and it told me that Blackhall Medical Practice, in Edinburgh is where I should register. I checked Blackhall Medical Practice's website to double check that I was eligible and according to their own website I am.

I went, in person to Blackhall Medical Practice, with all of my supporting documentation, along with my daughter who has just recently come out of hospital in the hope that I could register quickly and make an appointment to have my daughters wounds checked soon. The reception staff however, told me (at first without even checking the map) that I was not within their boundaries and could not register there. I explained that I had checked with the health board and their own website and that according to both of those sources of information, I was eligible. They refused to let me register but did give me a phone number (the health board) to call to explain that I was having difficulty registering with a GP.

Immediately after I left the practice, I called the number on my mobile phone, explained my situation and gave my post code and they told me that I should register with Blackhall Medical Practice! I then went back in to speak to the reception staff and although they took my mobile phone number and said they would call me back, still have not done so.

I am now stuck (and have been for several weeks) without a GP and don't really know where else to turn.

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Responses

Response from Stuart Wilson, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, NHS Lothian 10 years ago
Stuart Wilson
Director of Communications and Public Affairs,
NHS Lothian
Submitted on 23/12/2013 at 12:19
Published on Care Opinion at 16:46


Dear Edinburghmum,

I am sorry to hear of the problems you have encountered in trying to register with a GP Practice.

General Practitioners are independent contractors to the NHS and have their own system for registration.

Can you please contact the Practitioner Services Division on 0131 275 6000? They will be able to sort this out for you and deal with issues of this nature.

I hope you get a satisfactory resolution to your concerns.

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