How do you switch to a new GP?

Plus Magazine asked 1,690 people about their experiences with their GP in the past 2 years. 9 percent of the respondents switched to another GP in those 2 years. 19 percent of them indicated that this took a lot of effort. Usually this was because the GP practice they wanted to go to was full, or because there was no other GP nearby.

Choose by yourself

It is not mandatory to be registered with a general practitioner. It is handy: you can always go to your GP or the GP post if you need care. You choose your own doctor.

If you don’t like the current GP, you can simply change your GP. If you are registered with a practice with several doctors, you can transfer to a colleague of your current doctor. But you can also look for a completely different practice. You do have to pay attention to a few things.

Can you be refused?

A new general practitioner may refuse patients. This doctor must have a valid reason. Valid reasons are:

1. Distance: if you live too far away from the practice, the GP cannot reach you quickly enough in an emergency. In the event of an emergency, a general practitioner must be able to see a patient within fifteen minutes. That is why people are often refused if they live in the ‘wrong’ postcode area.
2. Too many patients: Even if the practice is full, a general practitioner may refuse new patients. But what is full? That is not legally established. The standard is currently 2168 patients, but any general practitioner may deviate from this.
3. Different view: If a general practitioner does not want to agree to certain care wishes, for example a request for euthanasia or alternative medicine, he may indicate that you should look for another practice.
4. Recent consultation: If the new GP has recently helped you as an observer of the current GP.

‘Too old’ is not a valid reason to be refused as a new patient at a general practice.

Denied, so what

• Ask by: If you are refused as a new patient, inquire about the reason.
• Search further: Is there a valid reason to reject you? Ask which practices you can go to.
• File a complaint: Are you being kicked off for an invalid reason? The question is, of course, whether you still want to go there as a patient at all. If you still want to work on it, submit a complaint to the independent complaints officer of the general practice. Every GP is obliged to have one.
• Higher up: Doesn’t that also work? Submit a written complaint to a dispute resolution body. Since 1 January 2017, every healthcare provider must join this. The Complaints and Disputes Foundation for Primary Care (SKGE) is the first recognized dispute resolution body for general practitioners and pharmacists.
• Health insurer: You can also ask your health insurer for advice. He has contracts with a large number of general practitioners and knows where there is still room for new patients.

This is how you arrange the transfer

If you have a new doctor in mind, ask the practice whether they can accept you as a patient. Then you can first request an introductory meeting. Also check with your health insurer whether the new general practitioner has a contract with your insurer.

If you want to change your GP permanently, you must first register with the new practice. Then notify the old GP that you are leaving and pass on the details of the new GP. You can arrange this verbally, by telephone or in writing. Your old GP will forward your medical file to the new one.