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    Ireland · Moving

    Moving County in Ireland? How to Keep Your Healthcare Going

    A move for work, study or family can feel like starting over with healthcare, even inside Ireland. Your old GP may be an hour away, local lists may be full and your records stay behind. With a little planning, your care can move with you: keep copies of your own records, sort your medicines before you go, and know where to turn while you settle in.

    By ViscaCare Team · Published by ViscaCare · Figures checked October 2026

    In this guide

    1Before you move2Changing GP3Prescriptions and pharmacy4Care while you settle in5When it is urgent6Common questions

    Before you move

    • Ask your GP for a printed or emailed summary: conditions, medicines, allergies, vaccinations and recent results.
    • Keep copies of hospital letters, scan reports and blood results. These are the documents most often missing at a new practice.
    • Note your old practice's name and phone number, so your new GP can request your full file.
    • Check you have enough regular medicine to last a few weeks after the move.

    Your own health record

    Records kept in one place, by you, never get lost in a move. A ViscaCare member's Vault holds letters, results, receipts and visit notes securely, ready to share when you choose.

    Changing GP

    Start contacting practices in your new area before you move. Ask about waiting lists and ring back every few weeks. Our guide to registering with a GP walks through the process.

    Medical card or GP visit card holders

    Contact the HSE to update your address and choose a new GP. If three practices refuse you, the HSE can assign one. See what to do if you can't find a GP.

    Prescriptions and pharmacy

    A valid prescription can be filled at any pharmacy in Ireland. Choose a pharmacy near your new home early, tell them about any Drugs Payment Scheme or medical card, and they can help with repeats.

    Care while you settle in

    Where to turn in a new county
    NeedGood first step
    Unsure where things are or how local services workAsk Mia, or your local pharmacist
    Minor illness, cold, skin problemCommunity pharmacist
    Needs a Doctor but not urgent, e.g. repeat medicine or an infectionOnline Doctor
    Unwell in the evening or at the weekendGP out-of-hours co-op
    Chest pain, difficulty breathing, signs of strokeCall 112 / 999

    ViscaCare members can ask Mia in plain English or their own language how services work in a new area, and Mia can prepare a summary for a Doctor, shared only with the member's consent. Mia offers general guidance, not medical advice or diagnosis.

    Bringing it together

    The same steps help whether you are moving from Navan to Dublin, from Lisbon to Dublin, or from Ireland to the UK. If you are coming from abroad, see our guide to moving to Ireland.

    When it is urgent

    Do not wait to find a new GP if you have chest pain, difficulty breathing, sudden weakness or confusion, heavy bleeding or a severe allergic reaction. Call 112 or 999.

    Common questions

    Do I have to change GP if I move county in Ireland?

    Not legally, but most people do once travelling back becomes impractical. You can stay with your old GP while you look for a new one.

    How do my medical records move to a new GP?

    When you register with a new practice, it usually asks your previous GP to send your records, with your consent. This can take some time, so keeping your own copies of key letters, results and medicine lists helps your new Doctor from day one.

    Can I fill my prescription in a different county?

    Yes. A valid prescription can be filled at any pharmacy in Ireland. If you are on the Drugs Payment Scheme or a medical card, tell your new pharmacy so the right charges apply.

    What happens to my medical card if I move?

    Contact the HSE to update your address and, if needed, choose a GP in your new area. Your entitlement does not end because you moved within Ireland.

    What if no GP in my new area is taking patients?

    Keep a note of practices you contact and join waiting lists. Medical card and GP visit card holders can ask the HSE to assign a GP. In the meantime, pharmacists, out-of-hours services and online Doctors can help with everyday care.

    Is moving from one county to another really that disruptive?

    It often is. You lose a Doctor who knows you, your records stay behind and local services are unfamiliar. Planning ahead and keeping your own health record makes the change much easier.

    Where these figures come from

    Charges and thresholds change. We check these figures regularly, but always confirm the current rate with the official source before you rely on it. This page explains entitlements, costs and process - it is not medical advice.

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