This information applies to England, Wales and Northern Ireland
A GP may be able to remove you from the patient register in some situations, for example, because you move out of the practice area or are physically or verbally abusive to people at the practice. In most cases, the GP must have given you a warning, and provided you with the reasons for your removal from the register. The GP will inform the Primary Care Trust (PCT) or the Local Health Board, who then notifies you. The removal from the register takes effect from the eighth day after the PCT receives the GP’s notice, or from the date that you are included on another register if this is sooner. You are entitled to emergency treatment, or the continuation of treatment which is occurring more than once a week, until you are accepted by another GP.
If you have been violent, or have threatened to be violent, towards your GP or practice staff, and the police have been informed, you can be removed immediately from the GP’s list. You will only be accepted for emergency treatment by the GP who has removed you if the GP is satisfied that it is clinically necessary.
If you have been removed from a GP’s list you may wish to complain if you feel you have been treated unfairly, for example, if you feel discrimination was involved. You may be able to get help to do this from a Ctizens Advice Bureau. To find details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by e-mail, click on nearest CAB.
For more information about complaints in England, see NHS and local authority social services complaints. In Wales, see NHS complaints in Wales. In Northern Ireland, see HPSS complaints in Northern Ireland.
Disclaimer, copyright and privacy policy, Copyright © 2012 Citizens Advice. All rights reserved.
