How to register with a GP surgery

Anyone in England can register with a GP surgery.

You do not need proof of address or immigration status, ID or an NHS number.

You might be able to register with a GP surgery that's not in the area you live. Find out about registering with a GP surgery out of your area

Registering with a GP

Find a GP that suits what you need. You can look up GP surgeries to see what they offer and how they compare.

Find a GP

Because of coronavirus, try to avoid going into a GP surgery to register.

You can:

check the GP surgery website to see if you can register online
call or email the GP surgery and ask to be registered as a patient

You can download a GMS1 registration form on GOV.UK if you're asked to complete one.

If you need help to fill in forms or you are not able to register online, call the GP surgery and let them know.

Can a GP surgery refuse to register me?

A GP surgery can refuse to register you because:

they are not taking any new patients
you live outside the practice boundary and they are not accepting patients from out of their area
you have been removed from that GP surgery register before
it's a long way from your home and you need extra care, for example home visits

Information:

If you have problems registering with a GP surgery:

call the NHS England Customer Contact Centre on 0300 311 22 33
contact your local Healthwatch

Out of Area Registration

Out of area registration (with or without home visits) is voluntary for GP practices meaning patients may be refused because they live out of area.

If your application is considered and accepted, we will only register you without home visits if it is clinically appropriate and practical in your individual case.

To do this we may:

Ask you or the practice you are currently registered with questions about your health to help decide whether to register you in this way
Ask you questions about why it is practical for you to attend this practice (for example, how many days during the week you would normally be able to attend)

If accepted, you will attend our practice and receive the full range of services provided as normal at the surgery. However, should you have an urgent care need, and the surgery cannot help you at home, we may ask you to call NHS 111 and they will put you in touch with a local service (this may be a face-to-face appointment with a local healthcare professional or a home visit where necessary).

If you live just outside the practice catchment area, we may decide that it is not in your best interest or practical for you to be registered in this way, as a result, we may accept your registration with home visits. If accepted but your health needs change, we may review your registration to see if it would be more appropriate for you to be registered with a GP practice closer to your home.

We may also decline your registration and advise you to seek to register (or remain registered) with a more local practice to your home address.

This new arrangement only applies to GP practices and patients who live in England.

For further information visit the NHS Choices website.

Changing GP surgeries

You can change your GP surgery if you need to.

This might be because:

you have moved
you have had problems with your current practice
you were removed from the patient list

You should tell the GP surgery if you change address or move out of the area.

Using a GP surgery you're not registered with

You can contact any GP surgery if you need treatment and:

you're away from home
you're not registered with a GP surgery
it's a medical emergency

You might need to register as a temporary resident or permanent patient if you need treatment for more than 14 days.

You can register as a temporary resident for up to 3 months. You'll still be registered with your usual GP surgery if you have one.

Registering with a GP under the Mental Capacity Act

The Mental Capacity Act (MCA) is designed to protect and empower people over 16 who are unable to make decisions about their care and treatment.

If a person is unable to register with a GP because they cannot make decisions about their care, registration can be done by:

a relative
the main carer
a lasting power of attorney
a person appointed by a court under the Mental Capacity Act