long term MH issues and moving house & changing GP
It's the changing GP part that concerns me.
Well, yes, moving house is stressful anyway.
I've been reading re the local GPs on NHS Choices, for the area I would move to, and it's depressing. It sort of puts me off.
You know when you move, and you register with a new GP at the new address?
Some say you have to wait for registration to be complete, and that takes some days, before you can get an appointment. What happens if you have a MH crisis before then? Obviously I'm not planning on one, but moving house is stressful...
Does anyone have any experiences, helpful or difficult or otherwise, to share?
Obviously I would ensure I have a good supply of my meds before moving/changing practices.
I'm not under the CMHT, so that's not an issue. Currently I see my GP once every 3 weeks for a MH check in, and refill of my prescription.
You can make an emergency appointment with the doc if it is urgent. They only normally need one afternoon to register you.
Phone the different doctors surgerys and ask if they have a GP who is trained in mental health.. Some are. Ask how long it takes to register. If need be why not see if you can register via the telephone and bring relevant docs and sign when you arrive so that they have already requested your notes and have you on the system.
I hope it works out for you.
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Because you know your gp well they may let you stay with them until you're moved.
Also I moved area and went from area with good MH reviews to one with bad and to be honest it hasn't mattered really as I think it depends on individuals.
May it be an optio to stay with your current gp if they allowed it?
I would not be able to stay with my current GP. As it is, I am already out of the catchment area - but she let me stay when I moved last time, as it wasn't that far away and I was quite unwell and needed continuity.
One of the practices had a patient comment that it took 5 days for them to register them!
I see my GP on Friday, so can also get her advice then [by which time I will hopefully have started the process towards moving].
I hadn't thought of asking if they have a GP trained in MH. As far as I know, my current one isn't, but she is pretty amazing anyway!
Also people tend to write negative reviews and dont leave positive reviews. When I moved house I registered with a new gp but it took me a little bit and I had one last appt with my old hp
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I have moved several times, and in my experience it has taken a long time for my notes to get transferred to the new practice - especially if you are moving across counties.
I would suggest that you make sure you have enough medication, which you said you will - even if she can write you a prescription for a date in the future so if they still don't have your notes you can still get a prescription if you need it.
I would also suggest that you try and register ASAP to speed the process up. I think it probably took longer for me because I moved across counties 3 times after staying in places for only a few months - so my notes took a long time to catch up with me.
You can make emergency appointments, like others have said. But they won't be able to do specific things until they have all your notes. But I'm afraid theres not really anything anyone can do about that. At least you can see them if there is an emergency.
Whenever I have moved I have always looked to see where the nearest Samaritans drop in centre is, and if I've had problems gone to see them. They can be really helpful and when it's face to face I find it better than on the phone. They can't actually do anything, but at least it's someone to talk to.
And if you get put with a GP you don't get on with, then just go see a different GP - trial and error until you find one that you get on with.
When do you register at your new GP. I registered to another location and that rookie literally half an hour filling in forms however when I moved back home from uni it literally took half an hour again and they had my notes as its all on the doctors database? I'm not sure if this is the same everywhere else? Hope it's this quick for you :) x
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There's no rush to register until after I've moved. I am planning to set the process of moving in motion as from Monday, and I anticipate the move to be 2-3 weeks after that, all being well.
Oohhhhh, I thought you meant that you'd already moved and met your new GP and that's who was being supportive - not your old GP. Ah, well I hope your new GP is just as supportive as well :) but remember, it does take time to build up trust and a good relationship with your GP - you need to get to know them and they need to get to know you a bit before you can make any judgements. Hope the move goes well...
its good to see you're progressing in all this stellata. again, scary though it is (the thought of changing doctors) you dont want that to stand in the way of a change in surroundings. moving out and moving on was successful for me. i look back now and am very glad i took the plunge.
