How to change your GP or midwife

A good midwife or GP is a very valuable thing, but sometimes you and your health professional just don’t get along. If you feel that a poor relationship is having an impact on your care, then you do have the right to find someone else to look after you.

Changing your GP, midwife or health visitor may seem daunting, but while it is not something you would want to do every day, it is not too difficult when you do have to make a change.

• Changing your GP
• Changing your midwife

Changing your GP

If you are simply moving house, all you need to do is apply to a GP in your new area.

But if you are actually unhappy with your GP, it is possible to change, and without giving a reason.

Your health authority has to find you an alternative GP or send you details of how to change and a list of doctors. They must do so within two working days.

Once you have changed, they should send any records needed urgently and transfer remaining records within six weeks.

Doctors also have to right to remove you from their list without giving a reason for doing so. Your health authority must make sure you are not left without a doctor.

You can remain with your original doctor but consult with another on contraceptive and maternity issues, if you choose. Contact your health authority to find out which doctors have a ‘C’ after their name for contraceptive issues and contact the same place for maternity issues asking which doctors are on the ‘obstetric list’.

Changing your midwife

Changing your midwife depends on how you were originally assigned your midwife in the first place.

You may receive all your maternity care from the hospital. In this case, if you have an objection to a particular midwife then raise your problem with the Head of Midwifery Services. He or she will listen to your problem and if they feel it is valid, try to arrange an alternative midwife to carry out your care. This will depend on staffing. However, you may find that hospital care means a different midwife on nearly every visit, so it may be less of a problem.

Shared care between a hospital and GP also tends to mean you will see a number of midwives, at least on your hospital visits. Requesting a different midwife at hospital is done in the same way as above. A different midwife at your GP may be more of a problem as midwives are usually ‘assigned’ to a practice. You may have to go elsewhere for your care if you don’t want to be treated by a certain midwife.

The final type of care is entirely from a midwife, as part of a team of midwives. In this case you are usually assigned two midwives who carry out nearly all your care, including delivery. You could request to be moved to another team of two if you felt strongly about one midwife. Again, the Health of Midwifery Services will be able to give you guidance.

Thanks to the Association of Community Health Councils in England and Wales, and Leicester General Hospital.