#changing gp

[ukftm]

Hey, I've just got the go ahead to start sustanon (finally!!). Problem is im moving from North Wales to London at the end of the month to do my Masters and I've no idea how to go about changing GPs when I've got an ongoing perscription for something. It also might be a while before I Can register with a different GP as I don't have any ID rn bc I've only just sent off for a passport and that can take 6 weeks. Any pointers from anyone would be great here.

Depending on how long you are going to be in London, and whether you’re still actively attending the gender clinic, it might be best to try and register as a temporary patient at a GP surgery in London, as you will currently be funded by the NHS in Wales for your GIC attendance, and moving between countries in the UK can cause issues with funding for services. Charing Cross might be able to tell you more about that though, if you get in touch with them.

Usually you don’t need to take ID in order to register with a GP practice, so it’s probably worth turning up and trying to register without your ID - they will soon tell you if they do in fact need to see it.

As for continuing a prescription, this should be fairly straightforward - lots of people need to get prescriptions for ongoing medications when moving between different GP surgeries, so you should just need to ask for the prescription to be continued (perhaps take proof that you’ve been approved and previously prescribed, just in case).

Any advice from people who have moved between Wales and England as students, whilst under the care of a gender clinic?

~ James

[ukftm]

my current GP has been lowkey ignoring some of my health concerns since I was about 14. Im considering switching GPs before I do any kind of medical transition business since I dont think they would take me being trans seriously. should I sign up to the new GP under my preferred name (Im due to get my deed poll soon, so no worries on the legal side of things)? or should I sign up as my given name and then book an appointment to discuss my gender and present my deedpoll then?

It shouldn’t matter too much either way, provided you have the deed poll at the time you register at the new practice. If you’re concerned about this though, there’s no need to get the ‘approval’ of the new GP before adjusting your name on your GP/NHS records - changing your name on your records will be an issue they deal with in the office, rather than something that’s dealt with by your GP themselves.

~ James

[ukftm]

When changing GPs, do you need to inform the GIC? Would my current GP send details to the new one? Sorry I've never done this before, I'm getting worried I'd need to explain everything all over again and not get my prescription. :/

Yes, you should inform the GIC. Your GIC should have instructions on their website for how to go about updating your details, but if not, then you can contact the clinic directly and ask them how they need to be informed (some ask you to send a form back to them, some will update details in person when you next attend an appointment, and so on).

Your GP records should get automatically transferred to your new GP when you switch, but it can take a little bit of time for everything to be available at the new surgery. However, if it’s a case of continuing treatment you’ve already started, it should be quite straightforward as they will likely be able to access information about your regular prescriptions etc quite quickly, and if you’re yet to start treatment then you can take your gender clinic letters as evidence if that would reassure you.

~ James

[ukftm]

If i change GP to my term one will I need them to resend the shared care agreement for daventry ? Or will they prescribe me T anyway?

To be honest I’m not certain about this. It seems an odd requirement to me, as I’m sure there are a number of people who have to change GPs whilst at Daventry, due to university or moving for other reasons, so I would think your term GP should be willing to continue your care as agreed by your previous GP (though you may want to make an initial appointment with your term time GP to explain your situation and what you need from them, in your own words). Your best bet is to contact Daventry directly to double-check their requirements: their email address and phone number are on their website.

In the meantime, do any followers have experience with this?

~ James

[lifeaccordingtocrohns]

Today I gained some adult points.

I printed off and filled out some forms to change my GP from the small town where my parents live (my hometown since 2011) to one in the city where I moved to on Sunday.

THEN

I took them to the doctors office after work because it’s literally a block away from my apartment.  Gave them my ID.  Now they do the rest and get my medical records from tiny hometown GP.  

Feeling quite accomplished.

[ukftm]

I got my shared care agreement for my GIC referral Signed at a doctors surgery in Cheshire (Where I was at uni) and am moving to Manchester now that I have graduated.. My question is, will I need to go back to that surgery that referred me to get my T when it is prescribed or would I need to join a new doctors in Manchester? If so, would this set back my referral and require new shared care agreements? Also how does this impact the GIC?! I've tried to contact Daventry but their on Pluto! Thanks!

Firstly, you will need to change GPs anyway as you’re moving out of the area, unless you’re only moving to Manchester temporarily and will be moving back to Cheshire - most GP surgeries will only accept you as a patient if you’re living in their catchment area,.

As far as shared care goes, I would think your new GP surgery would be obliged to honour the agreement made by your previous GP, in the interests of continuing your care. I’m not 100% sure on this, however - I’d definitely suggest you keep trying with Daventry, not least because you’ll need to notify them of your change of address and GP surgery anyway. Generally when you move and change GPs, all you need to do is make sure the GIC have up to date information so they send letters to the right place, and it doesn’t have any other effect on your treatment. 

As Daventry is the only GIC that I know of who explicitly write to GPs beforehand to get them to agree to shared care, I’m not sure if they’ll write to your new GP asking the same thing, but your position on the waiting list shouldn’t change while this is going on, if it does happen. When you do move and register with a new GP, it’s probably a good idea to see them straight away to explain that you’re trans, have been referred to a GIC, etc. You might like to look on the trans friendly doctor register, to see if there’s a confirmed trans-friendly GP surgery near to where you will be living.

~ James