Just been to register Ivy with our GP - they refused her on the grounds we won’t immunise!
Practice policy the receptionist said. Suggested I try another practice within the centre. Next practice also refused to take her on same grounds. Next practice didn’t refuse but said they couldn’t take her without the rest of the family, and couldn’t take whole family as we were alreay registered with a GP. Apparently they have to accept only new patients without a GP in the area (we live in an area with a high Polish/Lithuanian/Romanian influx). Very nice receptionist though who offered to go across and argue patient choice with our practice.
Decided to speak to HV within same building who suggested I contact local health authority and explain and they would allocate Ivy a GP, possibly our own GP. HV went off to get the contact details for the authority and came back 2 minutes later saying that she had spoken to our GP practice manager and that they WOULD accept Ivy after all. Cue one very embarassed receptioinist (who was only taking higher advice as I heard her double check the policy before refusing Ivy!!). So Ivy now has a GP, hopefully never needed…....
Ironic ending - On the window of the reception, just above the receptionists head, a sticker saying “YOUR HEALTH - YOUR CHOICE” 
So yes, 30 minutes spent doing a 30 second task, grrr!

Becks xx

Gosh, can’t believe they would try to refuse you on the grounds you choose not to vaccinate. I’ve never been asked that before when registering, and then we just ignore the reminders they send until we feel ready. Glad you finally managed to get a GP.

probably changed their mind once they knew you were contacting health authority. i wonder if its to do with finance as i think they get more money if they have high acceptence of immunisation.

That is crazy!  I’m also wondering with RachelN if its a money thing.  But what a great sensationalist healdine that could be ‘GP refuses baby’

Wow.  :S

In our area you can’t get a doctor to do a birth check (!) unless you take the baby in to the practice and register them.  So within hours of home birth, there we are, signing forms with our tiny newly born baby.  They have no system for notifying doctors of home births, nobody will come out to the house, and they persist in asking why the hospital didn’t do the birth checks etc.  *sigh*

I’m glad they changed their story when you started to take it further!

Even crazier down here; after a home birth you have to take the baby to the hospital for the checks!!

Joxy - 12 October 2012 03:14 PM

Even crazier down here; after a home birth you have to take the baby to the hospital for the checks!!

Yes, here too! Although when we said we weren’t going to rush in, we certainly weren’t in a hurry, they quickly sent out a qualified MW to do the check

arwen_tiw - 12 October 2012 03:06 PM

Wow.  :S

In our area you can’t get a doctor to do a birth check (!) unless you take the baby in to the practice and register them.  So within hours of home birth, there we are, signing forms with our tiny newly born baby.  They have no system for notifying doctors of home births, nobody will come out to the house, and they persist in asking why the hospital didn’t do the birth checks etc.  *sigh*

I’m glad they changed their story when you started to take it further!

Guess my midwives were a bit pushy then because the GP came to my house to do the newborn check. I made it clear I wasn’t taking her in and the doctor turned up later, telling me that home births were so rare they had refused because they thought I hadn’t had it done at the hospital!