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Quote: Originally posted by Goldseeker on 07/6/2012

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But isnt it strange that your birth certificate doesnt belong to you?
Its owned by HMG

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 The register page: the birth entry: belongs to the GRO ( it is a legal document) but anyone is entitled to buy a certified copy of it if they complete a form with sufficient details. But it does say on that that it is not proof of identity.

Requesting a passport or a full copy of a birth certificate is an easy way for employers to check elligability to work in UK. ie. are you British? EU nationals are always ready to produce their ID cards or passports, as they are used to this in their own countries.

ID cards from birth based on NHS number would eradicate a lot of fraud and keep the system simpler.

I had to assess a new client today. She is moving house and her social worker took her to register with a new doctor this morning. The surgery wanted photo ID, even though she has NHS and NI numbers.

She is partially sighted, epileptic and has a learning disability. She'd never be allowed a driving licence and has hardly been out of the county, never mind the country, so no passport.

Can any of you clever peeps suggest what she can do, apart from pleading with the surgery to make an exception?

Good thought, Parmit - I'll ask her.

Thanks.