The website NHS Choices will give information on the GP practices and other NHS services that are available and local to patients. Or you can use our  Search for a local NHS service near you page. 

A person can register at a GP practice if they live within the catchment area of a surgery.  In some areas particularly urban areas, patients may have a choice of surgeries that they are eligible to register with.

A practice will be able to advise patients if their address is within their catchment area, and this information should also be provided on their practice leaflet.  Some practices may accept patients from outside their catchment areas but they are not required to do so.

To register at a practice a patient will need to complete an NHS registration form. This can be obtained from the practice and one will need to be completed for each member of the family.  Patients will also be asked to complete a health questionnaire and an ethnicity form; again a separate form will need to be completed for each member of the family. These forms can sometimes be posted to patients.

Practices may ask for some form of identification to be shown at the time of registration.

All practices are required to have a practice leaflet. The practice leaflet will give patients information on the services that the practice provides, and the staff that work there. It will also provide information on the facilities the practice offers to disabled people.  A lot of practices now have their own website but patients can contact surgeries directly if they have any specific queries.

Following registration a patient may be asked to attend the practice to have an initial health check for an overall assessment of their general health; this may include checking blood pressure, weight and cholesterol.

Once patients are registered with a GP practice, they will have the right to choose a particular practitioner that they would prefer to see if available.

It is advisable to register a new born baby as soon as possible. The hospital or midwife will have issued the parents with an NHS number. This information will need to be completed on the registration form.

A patient can register as a temporary resident if they are resident in the practice catchment area for more than 24 hours but not more than 3 months.