New Patient Registration

The practice doctors work on a pooled list principle. Patients can request to be seen by the practitioner of their choice and when no preference is stated they are asked which doctor they normally see. The Reception Staff will then allocate them to that doctor preferentially. Where a patient wishes to exercise the right to request an appointment with their preferred practitioner, they must understand that they may have to wait for some time until an appointment is available.

The Royal College of General Practitioners has produced a useful guide for patients about the services on offer at GP Surgeries and how to access them.  You can download the guide below.

If you are ill while away from home or if you are not registered with a doctor but need to see one you can receive emergency treatment from the local GP practice for 14 days. After 14 days you will need to register as a temporary or permanent patient.

You can be registered as a temporary patient for up to three months. This will allow you to be on the local practice list and still remain a patient of your permanent GP. After three months you will have to re-register as a temporary patient or permanently register with that practice.

To register as a temporary patient simply contact the local practice you wish to use. Practices do not have to accept you as a temporary patient although they do have an obligation to offer emergency treatment. You cannot register as a temporary patient at a practice in the town or area where you are already registered.