Tried to register at the local GP today...

So, I'm in the UK on an unmarried partner visa.  I have been here about two weeks.  Today, my girlfriend and I went to go register at the local surgery, about a 3 minute walk from our flat, and I was told it was "against the law for them to register me".  According to them, I need to be in the UK for 6 months before I can register.

Help!

I've run into this before as well. You can find the rules stating that that isn't the case on the web and print them out to hand to the surgery, or just try another GP (which is what I did). You don't have to wait 6 months, but a lot of surgeries don't know that.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitlementsandcharges/OverseasVisitors/Browsable/DH_074376

Print out this page and show it to the receptionist.  Unfortunately, this is a common issue and many people who work at surgeries don't know what they're talking about.   

They may still give you a hard time so be forewarned. You may end up having to contact your local PCT and they will set them straight.

Assuming you're in England, you can also try and get help from your local pals group if printing the stuff out doesn't work with your receptionst.   Not sure if there's an equivalent service outside of England.  

Goodness, I wonder if GPs surgeries have been having a headache from someone/somewhere about making sure people have been in country 6 months before registering.  Seems we've had such a string of these occurrences lately here on UKY!  


Contrast that to me 3 years ago, when I walked in, made an appointment before I even registered, walked in and filled out the paperwork. No one ever asked for a visa, passport, or anything in between!

My husband registered both myself and my 8 year old with his GP on a visitor basis before we ever even got here! It was no problem at all. We would still have to pay for any visits if we used him, but at least we were registered!

Thanks.  I just went to a different surgery!