I called up the local surgery, and was just told to fill out their form (pretty low-key compared to even the dentist forms I've filled out in the US), and show up during their open hours. I submitted my forms and was shown into the doctor's office.
It was a bit weird-- more of a clerical interview than anything else. The only doctory thing he did was take my blood pressure! I gave him a list of specialists I'd like to see, and he gave me some phone numbers, and that was it. Fairly bewildered, I went home.
A week or two later, I received a letter in the mail saying that I was entitled to a new patient exam (well what was that other thing supposed to be?) and was given a date and time. So I went to that this last week, and a nurse confirmed all of the family history and whatnot that had by now been entered into the computer from my form, then she took my weight and height and blood pressure and urine sample and that was it.
Still waiting to hear from one of the references (a podiatrist) but maybe they couldn't go through with that until I had this appointment with the nurse. The doctor I saw that first time was initially resistant (I've never heard of that before-- are you sure?), but I just shoved my visa under his nose, told him that I had confirmed it just the night before on the government website, and held firm. No other problem.
Good luck to your OH!
