Hi Michelle,
Yep, all you have to do is ask for an ongoing referral. Don't forget GPs are business people too, they make money when you have to go in, even for a referral. I hate that too.
We had a problem up here when we needed a new referral from a GP up here for our paed of 10 years. The GP wouldn't write one unless he had seen all 7 kids !!!!!!!!
Our paed got around that though by phoning the old GP and getting an extention over the phone of his 12month referral. It is now ongoing.