Primary Care

Anyone in England can register with a GP surgery. It’s free to register, you do not need proof of address or immigration status, ID or an NHS number. 

GP surgeries are usually the first contact if you have a health problem, they can treat many conditions and give health advice, they can also refer you to other NHS services.

Depending on your needs, you may be seen by a member of the wider general practice team. Having a range of professionals at your general practice means you receive the most appropriate care as quickly as possible. You can often see these specialists straight away. For an appointment, just check your practice website or discuss your needs with practice staff.

Practice reception staff, also known as care navigators, are specially trained to understand your needs and will listen to you so that they can:

• get you an appointment with the right clinician as quickly as possible.
• identify services you can access with a GP referral.
• make appointments for new kinds of care or services.

If you contact your practice, you should no longer be asked to call back another day to book an appointment.

• If your need is clinically urgent it should be assessed on the same day by a telephone or face-to-face appointment. If you contact your practice in the afternoon, you may be assessed on the next day, where clinically appropriate.
• If your need is not urgent, but it requires a telephone or face-to-face appointment, this should be scheduled within two weeks.
• Where appropriate, you will be signposted to self-care or other local services such as community pharmacy or self-referral services.

If you want to book an appointment online, you can use the NHS App or log into your account on the NHS website. You can create an account if you do not already have one.

You may also be able to book GP appointments online using other apps and online services your GP surgery uses.

Find out more about access to primary care.

Find a GP near you and learn more about the registration process: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/how-to-register-with-a-gp-surgery/

Find out about the different roles in general practice

Find out more about patient records.