'I went 6 months between GP appointments. Then, they wouldn't take me back.'

“I thought it was ridiculous that I was being penalised in a sense for… being healthy?”

If you see them enough, few relationships are more personal than the one between you and your GP.

Chances are, you’ve seen them since childhood - everyone in your family has. And, they know everything about you. Literally.

But, unless you have a condition that you need to see them about regularly, it might be a year, or even multiple years, between visits. For one Aussie, this meant they’d never be able to go back.

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“I got told that he is not taking new patients”

An Aussie Reddit user has taken to the platform to share their experience with their GP - or former GP.

They said that they’d been seeing the same doctor for a few years, but hadn’t within the last 6 months. According to them, that was too long.

“[I tried] to make an appointment with my regular GP who I have been seeing for a few years for things such as [my] mental health plan, general checkups etc,” they wrote.

“Due to his ‘popularity’ I got told that he is not taking new patients and because it’s been more than 6 months since my last appointment we can’t see him.”

The poster thought this was ridiculous, asking the internet if it was common practice.

“What the actual? So I should have just been making an appointment and wasting his time and Medicare every couple of months just to be able to see him when I actually need it?” they said.

“Has anyone else found this?”

“I thought it was ridiculous that I was being penalised in a sense for… being healthy?”

Commenters assured the poster that they weren’t alone, sharing similar stories about being dropped by their doctor.

“I had this because I don’t get sick much. Couldn’t see my old Dr so had to ring around and find someone new who could see me,” one user shared.

“This happened to me a few years ago. I had the same doctor from childhood. Then I was overseas for 16 months. When I came back I went to the doctors and they wouldn't see me because it was too long ago,” another said.

“That happened to me when booking via Hotdoc. I thought it was ridiculous that I was being penalised in a sense for… being healthy? Anywho, my Dr is the absolute GOAT so I simply called and he fit me right in,” a third said.

People were divided

As for whether this was okay, many called the act ‘ridiculous’ and unfair.

“Wow! That's insane. I'd probably keep pestering them. You are NOT a new patient; they have all your records! And 6 months really isn't a lot,” said one person.

“That's ridiculous. Call back and be firm. I'm an existing patient with records in your system, not a new patient. If the receptionist won't budge, ask to speak with office management. This 6-month rule is just a lazy way to clean their patient list. Don't take no for an answer,” another agreed.

However, others sympathised with the GP, saying they had to draw the line somewhere to keep things fair for other, more regular patients.

“I read this as a GP who is overwhelmed with work and needing to cut back and to ration their availability. And they have to decide to do so by focusing on the patients they know best — because these are the patients for whom it would be most disruptive to have to transfer,” one person said.

“It must be understandably frustrating for those who get bumped off this GP’s list. But GPs are human beings, with their own limits. I suspect he is not happy to have to do this.”

“Your GP must be popular. Six months is unusual but I guess they have to draw the line someplace. At a certain point the GP is unable to provide safe and timely care if they don’t limit the number of patients they have,” another person agreed.

Is it actually normal?

According to Aussie GP Dr Sam Hay, it isn't normal - nor should it become the norm.

"This is disgraceful to hear that general practice colleagues are being so militant with their own patients. It doesn't really foster confidence in their ability to provide empathetic care does it?" he told Kidspot.

"It is widely accepted that once a patient is 'through the front door', a practice would continue to provide them care into the future. Sure, if they haven't been in for a long time - several years - the doctor may request a longer appointment to ensure they can get up to speed with their medical history - but six months is a joke!

"As a GP, the reality is that younger people are generally 'more well', hence will not need to come in as those with more mature vintages (i.e. older). Being 'more well' is an absolute advantage and should never be punished.

"When six months is considered, I can't help but think that practice is trying to 'price gouge' the system.

"Bottom line - seek care from good GPs who treat you with respect, dignity, and empathy."

Originally published as 'I went 6 months between GP appointments. Then, they wouldn't take me back.'