Do I have to sign up with same GP as my husband?

I am on a spousal visa and not currently working. Do I have to sign up with the same GP as my husband? (He's on a work visa and has an NI number.)

Thanks for any advice! We moved here about 6 weeks ago, and are just getting around to this.

I am on a spousal visa and not currently working. Do I have to sign up with the same GP as my husband? (He's on a work visa and has an NI number.)

Thanks for any advice! We moved here about 6 weeks ago, and are just getting around to this.

No, but I think you do need to be with a GP in your area. My husband and I have the same GP because he's an absolutely awesome doctor.

Have a look at www.nhs.net - stick your postcode in and it'll tell you what practices are in your area. They'll all have a catchment area so there's no guarantee that you'll be able to register there (even if they're close, you may fall outside of their boundary). The other option is to register with the same surgery but request a different doctor - the problem with that is that some small surgeries (ours is TINY) sometimes only have one doctor available - so if you're quite ill and can't wait for the doctor you want you may have to see your husband's if he/she is the only one available....

Thanks for the replies!

We found two practices in our catchment area. One has all female doctors (my choice), the other all male (my husband's choice).

I was just wondering, since my husband is the one paying into the system (with an NI number), would I be *required* to sign up with the same practice as him in order to receive NHS care?

Thanks for the replies!

We found two practices in our catchment area. One has all female doctors (my choice), the other all male (my husband's choice).

I was just wondering, since my husband is the one paying into the system (with an NI number), would I be *required* to sign up with the same practice as him in order to receive NHS care?

No. You are a legal resident here and are therefore entitled to NHS, just like everyone else, whether you are employed or not. 

No. You are a legal resident here and are therefore entitled to NHS, just like everyone else, whether you are employed or not. 

Great--thank you so much!

I just registered this morning at the same surgery (it is literally less than 1 block from our new house so why not?) but I did register with a different doctor. 

I just registered this morning at the same surgery (it is literally less than 1 block from our new house so why not?) but I did register with a different doctor.  

I registered with the same doctor, but for whatever reason, I have seen most every doctor at our surgery and rarely see the one I registered with! They are all great, so I don't mind seeing someone different each time. I haven't had a doctor here yet that I disliked.

The surgery my husband is registered with was not taking new patients when I moved here, so I registered with a different one, no problem.

This thread and its replies are relevant to me and I appreciate the info lots

But I must say, your signature line below momentarily overshadowed the find; indeed, stellar! [Looking forward to tagging it to occasional eMail ]

I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you over the sound of how awesome I am.