Dear LPG,

I think that I am one of the lucky ones; I have reached the age of 90 years and I can still do so much, although that does not mean that I am without any health ailments.  I am in a lot of pain but keep working through it even though my housework and getting out of the house (in fact everything I do) now takes an awful lot longer than it ever did even a few years ago.

I am also lucky because, while I admit that I often forget things, times and places to a certain extent; I am still in control of my own affairs.  I live alone and am still able to look after myself and I know that so many people of my age cannot.

I recently went to the doctors and found that I needed to have a bit of day surgery and I was referred to a particular Hospital which is relatively local to where I live.

Even though so many hospitals have now closed leaving a lot less choice, I have personal reasons for not wanting to be treated in that particular hospital in spite of the fact that it is the one most local to me, but I thought that I had to be treated there.

I mentioned this to my GP who informed me that I have the right to be treated at any hospital I choose, as long as they can accommodate me and can offer the treatment that I need and that I also have the right to be able to choose which team of doctors perform my procedure even though, in this day and age, doing so could have a marked impact on the waiting time involved.

It is interesting to know that, in principle, all patients have the right to choose the GP surgery they attend and to change that practice if they are dissatisfied in some way, and that they do not have to give a reason either.   It is also a fact that the surgery you want to change to has to accommodate you unless they have a good reason not to, although it has to be noted that the availability of patient vacancies at GP group practices makes the practicalities of being able to join the surgery you want a little more difficult to achieve in 2019. 

I have been more vague about which part of London I live in so as not to incriminate any particular hospital in the area.

DM, South London.

LPG has found some information about choosing and changing doctors and hospitals which may be helpful.  If you want to change GPs you should start by contacting the local Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).  The Lewisham telephone number is 020 7206 3200 or their main advice line is 030 0311 2233. and we have left more information below.  It is to be noted that residential and care homes usually have regular visits from a GP that all their residents are registered with.  

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