How to Register with a GP

Anyone who is a resident in England is entitled to register with an NHS GP practice. This includes:

• British citizens and settled residents
• EU/EEA nationals with pre-settled or settled status
• People on most types of visa, including student visas and work visas
• Asylum seekers and refugees (even if their application is pending)
• People with no fixed address or who are homeless

Overseas visitors who are not ordinarily resident in England are generally not entitled to free GP services, though emergency treatment is always provided. If you are unsure of your entitlement, contact NHS England or Citizens Advice.

To register with a GP practice:

1. Find local practices using the NHS website GP finder at nhs.uk — you can filter by distance, whether they are accepting new patients, and available services.
2. Contact the practice by phone or visit in person to ask about registration. Many practices now offer online registration via their website or the NHS App.
3. Complete a GMS1 registration form — the practice will provide this. You may also be asked to complete a new patient health questionnaire.
4. The practice may ask for proof of identity (passport, driving licence) or address (utility bill, bank statement), but is not legally required to see these before registering you.

Once registered, you will receive an NHS number if you do not already have one. Your previous GP records will be transferred automatically.

A GP practice can legitimately refuse to register you only if:

• Its patient list is closed (at full capacity)
• You live outside its practice area and it only registers patients from a defined catchment area

A practice cannot lawfully refuse you on grounds of race, gender, religion, disability, or because you are homeless or have no fixed address. If you believe you have been refused unlawfully, you can:

• Contact your local Integrated Care Board (ICB), which has a duty to allocate you to a practice if you cannot register elsewhere
• Contact NHS England on 0300 311 22 33
• Make a formal complaint via the NHS complaints procedure

Once registered with a GP practice, you can access a growing range of online services through the NHS App (available on iOS and Android) or your practice's own online portal:

• Book and cancel appointments
• Request repeat prescriptions and nominate a pharmacy
• View your medical record summary, test results, and letters
• Complete online consultation forms (e.g., eConsult, AccuRx) to describe symptoms and receive advice

To use the NHS App, you will need to verify your identity online. If you have difficulty with digital access, your practice must provide alternative ways to access services.

If your experience of registering with a GP — or being removed from a list — falls short of your rights, several formal routes are available.

Complaints About a GP Practice

Under the NHS Complaints Regulations 2009, you can make a formal complaint directly to the GP practice (address it to the practice manager in writing). The practice must acknowledge within three working days and provide a full written response within 25 working days. If you are not satisfied, escalate to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) after receiving the practice's final response.

Complaints About GP Commissioning — Integrated Care Boards

GP services in England are commissioned by Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), which replaced Clinical Commissioning Groups in July 2022. ICBs are responsible for ensuring adequate primary care access in their area. If you cannot register anywhere locally because practices are at capacity and the ICB is not allocating you a practice, you can complain directly to the ICB. ICBs have a statutory duty under the NHS Act 2006 to make primary medical services available to anyone who wants them.

NHS Complaints Advocacy

If you find it difficult to navigate the complaints process, free NHS Complaints Advocacy services are available under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. Organisations such as POhWER (pohwer.net) and VoiceAbility operate in different areas of England and can help you draft letters, attend meetings, and challenge responses. The service is free and you do not need to meet any financial test to use it.

Escalation to NHS England and the PHSO

If the ICB does not resolve the issue, NHS England can be contacted on 0300 311 22 33. As a final step, the PHSO investigates complaints about NHS bodies including ICBs. The PHSO can recommend apologies, changes in practice, and financial remedies where service failure is established.