Every year there are some students who feel they would be better off staying registered with their home GP. Often they are patients with more complicated medical histories, or those on medication.
We do understand that changing GP is difficult for some people. We will do our best to make the change as easy as possible and hope that we will get to know you just as well as your previous GP. That is why we have an individual list system, so that you will usually get to see the same GP each time. We are experts in student care and we understand.
But it is REALLY important you change to us NOW. Unfortunately experience tells us that those patients often (in fact, more often than not) end up needing to see a GP in term time and come to us anyway at some point.
The problem is that unless a patient has already registered with us, we have to try to give advice without access to the patient's medical records. That is risky, not least of all because these patients are often those who have more complex histories.
Or perhaps the student speaks to the College Nurse, who then needs GP advice. Most GP surgeries will not know of the unique position of Cambridge Uniersity College Nurses. Since for confidentiality reasons GPs usually decline to speak to anyone who is not the patient, the College Nurses can struggle to get important advice, unless that is you are registered with a GP in Cambridge. We have a strong connection with the College Nurses and together we provide excellent support to students, including access to GPs when needed.
If you are reading this because your son or daughter is coming to study in Cambridge, make sure they register with a Cambridge GP. Eligible patients can register with us here.