GP Services (England)

Supporting Health, Wellbeing & Positive Futures

Your GP (General Practitioner) is usually your first point of contact for non-emergency healthcare. GP practices provide diagnosis, treatment, referrals to specialists, preventative care, long-term condition
management, vaccinations, mental health support, and access to many NHS services.

This guide explains your rights, available support, accessibility options, legal protections, and practical advice for patients, parents, carers, and young people.

Registering With a GP

Everyone living in England has the right to register with a GP practice that is accepting patients. You do not need proof of address, immigration status, identification, or an NHS number to register, although practices may ask for information to help locate your records. Refusing registration solely because you cannot provide ID or proof of address is not NHS policy.

Official guidance:

A GP practice may only refuse registration for limited reasons, such as living outside its practice boundary (unless it accepts out-of-area patients) or if it has formally closed its patient list.

Children

Parents or those with parental responsibility can register a child with a GP. Children should be registered as soon as possible after birth to ensure access to vaccinations, developmental checks, and ongoing healthcare.

Changing GP

You are free to change GP practices if another surgery accepts patients.

Common reasons include:

Moving home
Better accessibility
Shorter waiting times
Closer location
Communication needs
Specialist support for disabilities or long-term conditions
Preference for another practice

You do not normally need to explain why you wish to move.

Information:

Find and choose a GP

GP Appointments

Appointments may be available:

Face-to-face
Telephone
Video consultation
Online consultation
Text or digital advice where appropriate

During your appointment you have the right to:

Be treated with dignity and respect.
Receive clear explanations.
Ask questions.
Be involved in decisions about your care.
Give or refuse consent to treatment where you have capacity.
Request an interpreter or communication support if needed.

Tips for getting the most from your appointment

Bring:

A list of symptoms
Current medicines
Questions you want answered
Relevant medical letters or test results
A symptom diary if your condition changes over time

Ask before leaving:

What is my diagnosis?
What tests or treatment are recommended?
What are the risks and benefits?
What should I do if my symptoms get worse?
Will I be referred elsewhere?
When should I expect results?

Home Visits

GPs may provide home visits if your medical condition means you are genuinely unable to attend the surgery safely.

Home visits are usually for people who are:

Seriously ill
Housebound
Frail
Receiving end-of-life care
Unable to travel because of a medical condition

Request a visit as early in the day as possible if one is needed.

Information:

GP services overview

Repeat Prescriptions

Many long-term medicines can be ordered as repeat prescriptions.

You may request prescriptions through:

NHS App
GP online services
Your GP surgery
A nominated pharmacy

Most prescriptions are sent electronically using the NHS Electronic Prescription Service.

Information:

Electronic Prescription Service

Online GP Services

Many practices offer secure online services to:

Book appointments
Cancel appointments
Request repeat prescriptions
View parts of your GP health record
View test results (where available)
Send online consultation requests

Official information:

Using online GP services

Fit Notes (Statement of Fitness for Work)

If illness affects your ability to work for more than 7 calendar days, you may need a fit note from a healthcare professional.

A fit note may state:

Not fit for work
May be fit for work with adjustments

Suggested adjustments can include:

Reduced hours
Different duties
Home working
Workplace adaptations
Phased return

Referrals

If your GP believes specialist assessment or treatment is needed, they may refer you to hospital or community services.

Examples include:

Consultant clinics
Mental health services
Physiotherapy
Community nursing
Speech and language therapy
Occupational therapy
Paediatric services
Autism and ADHD assessment services
Diagnostic testing

Ask for:

A copy of the referral letter
Expected waiting times
Advice on what to do if your condition worsens while waiting

For many routine referrals, you may have a choice of provider through the NHS e-Referral Service.

Information:

NHS e-Referral Service

NHS App

The NHS App is available to people registered with a GP in England.

It allows many users to:

Order repeat prescriptions
View GP health information where available
View test results
Book or manage appointments (if enabled by the practice)
Receive NHS messages
Access NHS services
Manage organ donation preferences
View vaccination records where available

Official information:

NHS App

Your Legal Rights

The NHS Constitution for England sets out important patient rights, including the right to:

Access NHS services without unlawful discrimination.
Receive high-quality care.
Be treated with dignity and respect.
Be involved in decisions about your care.
Give informed consent.
Privacy and confidentiality.
Access your health records.
Make a complaint and have it investigated.
Receive information in a way you can understand.

The Equality Act 2010 guidance also protects people from discrimination because of disability and requires reasonable adjustments in many situations.

Accessibility and Reasonable Adjustments

You can ask your GP practice for:

Easy Read information
Large print
Braille
Audio information
British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter
Spoken language interpreter
Longer appointments
Quiet waiting areas
Step-free access
Support for autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, dementia, sensory impairments, anxiety, or communication needs

These needs should be recorded in line with the Accessible Information Standard.

Accessible Information Standard

Evidence Standards and Good Record Keeping

Keeping accurate records can help support your care and, if necessary, any complaint or review.

Useful evidence includes:

Appointment dates and times
Names and roles of healthcare professionals
Referral letters
Test results
Medication lists
Symptom diaries
Photos (where clinically relevant)
School reports or attendance records for children
Care plans
Copies of emails and letters
Notes of telephone conversations

Ask for copies of important documents and keep them organised.

Accountability and Complaints

If you have concerns about your GP care:

Speak to the GP practice or practice manager.
Contact the local Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) if hospital services are involved.
Make a formal complaint to the GP practice or relevant NHS commissioner.
If unresolved, you may be able to ask the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to investigate.

Useful resources:

Advice for Parents, Carers and Young People

Parents and carers can support children by:

Registering them with a GP as early as possible.
Keeping vaccinations up to date.
Taking a list of symptoms and questions to appointments.
Asking for explanations in plain language.
Requesting interpreters or accessibility support if needed.
Keeping copies of referral letters, clinic letters, and care plans.
Working with schools where health affects attendance or learning.

Young people who are able to understand and make decisions about their care may be involved directly in decisions about treatment, confidentiality, and consent, depending on their age, maturity, and the circumstances.

Official NHS & GOV.UK Resources

This guide is intended to help patients, families, carers, and professionals understand how GP services work, what rights are protected, and where to find authoritative NHS and GOV.UK support.