Policy Statement
Registration of Patients Outside Catchment Area
If you are considering becoming a new patient or remaining with us as a current patient, despite residing outside our catchment area, the following guidelines must be acknowledged:
We understand that some of our registered patients may wish to continue their affiliation with our practice for reasons of familiarity and ongoing care. It may be feasible to accommodate such patients who relocate outside our catchment area*, subject to the following rules.
As a practice, we do offer the option for patients to register with us even if they reside beyond our catchment area*, with certain exceptions (such as home visits and urgent treatment) and restrictions (such as referrals) to the services we provide.
*To be eligible for out-of-area registration, you must reside outside our catchment area but within England. Unfortunately, if you reside outside of England, we are unable to accept your registration or retain you as a patient.
Out-of-Area Registration
Leander Family Practice acknowledges that not all patients prefer registering with a surgery close to their residential address. Many patients opt to register closer to their workplace or educational institution. In response to this demand, we are introducing a new type of registration known as "Out of Area" (OOA) Registration.
OOA Registration offers patients access to all the services typically associated with registration, with two exceptions: home visits and urgent treatment (if you are unable to visit the practice). If an OOA Registered patient falls ill and requires home-based care, regardless of the time of day or night, they can call 111 (urgent) or 999 (emergency) to receive the necessary medical attention.
Certain patients are not suitable for OOA registration. This includes patients likely to require specialised care from teams located based on their residential address rather than their GP's address.
These patients/services include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Pregnant women/Antenatal services
- Families with children aged 15 years or younger
- Patients with severe mental health issues (e.g., Psychosis, Bi-Polar, Schizophrenia) who require support from mental health specialist teams (e.g., Community Mental Health Team)
- Patients or families with Child Safeguarding needs/Children's Social Care
- Patients with Adult Safeguarding needs/Adult Social Care
- Patients with complex community-based care packages/Adult Social Care
The reason for denying OOA registration to patients in these categories is that their health and social care needs are best met through registration in close proximity to their residence. Coordinating such care remotely with unfamiliar services poses practical challenges for GPs, who lack established professional relationships.
The practice reserves the right to decline registration for patients falling within these categories or, if they are already registered patients, to request that they register elsewhere if their circumstances place them in any of these groups while being registered as OOA at our practice.
We hope that OOA registration will allow patients satisfied with the level of care provided by our practice to continue their association should they relocate, should they choose. Additionally, we aim to provide access to our GP surgery for the first time to patients who commute for work or study in the Thornton Heath area and are thus part of our community.
Please be aware that registering as an OOA patient may occasionally necessitate a referral to a specific service. However, certain referrals are contingent upon your residential address, limiting our ability to refer you beyond our local area. Therefore, there may be instances where a referral is declined solely due to your out-of-area home address, which is beyond our control. If you require a referral, it may be advisable to join a GP practice closer to your residence to minimize potential delays in receiving treatment, including urgent interventions like suspected cancer referrals.
Additionally, if we agree to retain your registration, you must commit to attending any "review" appointments. You will be invited for a review of your medical condition (e.g., asthma, diabetes, etc.) or for preventive measures such as flu vaccines or smear tests, at least three times a year if applicable. Failure to attend these review appointments following the third invitation may result in removal from the practice list and a recommendation to register with a GP practice near your residential address.
What do I do to register as an Out-of-Area Patient?
Online Registration Forms
New Patients
You must agree to the above and then complete the New Patient Registration form:
You do not need to provide proof of your address, photographic ID or immigration status to register with us.
By completing the form above indicates to us that you agree to the out of area exceptions and restrictions, and you may be asked to register to a GP surgery closer to your home address that would provide you with suitable and unrestrictive care according to your needs.