Choosing and Registering with a GP

If you’ve just moved to a new area, you may be considering changing your GP, but how do you choose the best GP for you? In this MyHealthcare Clinic guide, we provide tips on how to choose the right GP for you, along with how to register, and some other common questions.

Key Takeaways

• Do your research before selecting a GP – Look into Google reviews, CQC ratings, and speak to team members at your potential clinics.
• Use tools like the NHS GP finder, Find a Private GP, or the MyHealthcare Clinic Location page to find clinics near you.
• Be aware of potential questions and requirements for GP registration.
• It is down to the GP practice itself to decide whether to accept or reject your registration.
• Use the NHS GP Finder or other tools to change your GP if you move or need to for other reasons.
• Be aware of what kind of GP is available at your chosen clinic, as this may affect how easy it is to get an appointment.
• Use the NHS App, GP Practice Website, or speak to the practice directly to change personal details.
• GPs may not be accepting new patients for a number of reasons. Be sure to use the NHS GP Finder to determine if NHS GPs are accepting new patients before you fill out a registration form.

Quicklinks

• Tips for choosing a GP
• How do I register for a GP?
• How to change my GP
• What are the differences between GPs?
• How to change my details with my GP
• Why aren’t GPs accepting new patients?
• Frequently asked questions

Tips for choosing a GP

Please consider the following tips when choosing your GP.

Compare multiple practices

Sites like Healthwatch suggest looking into three local practices, rather than picking a singular practice.

This opens you up to more GPs, helping you to find one that you think will suit you best.

When looking up your three or more practices, be sure to get in touch with them or visit the practice to ensure they have all the requirements you may need (for instance, a specialism or maternity care).

Compare CQC Ratings

CQC is an independent health and social care regulator within England, and provides excellent insight into local GP practices through a RAG (Red-Amber-Green) system, so you can get a good idea of how well local practices perform. They look into the following services:

• People with long-term conditions
• Families, children and young people
• Older people
• Working-age people (including those recently retired and students)
• People experiencing poor mental health (including people with dementia)
• People whose circumstances may make them vulnerable

And provide an overview of the practice itself by reviewing whether the practice is:

• Safe
• Effective
• Caring
• Responsive
• Well-led

They also provide information on specialisms and who runs the surgery. While CQC reports can be highly beneficial for choosing a GP, please bear in mind that many reports may be up to a decade old, so combining CQC data with other approaches may help you to better get to grips with your local services.

Read Practice Reviews

Reading practice reviews is an excellent way to get a feel of if patients value their local GP and GP practice. Take the time to look into Google Reviews filtered by Most Recent to ensure that overall star ratings aren’t skewed by reviews that may be years old.

Be sure to also look on social media and directories like Yell, where further reviews may be available.

Always remember, though, reviews are typically one person’s opinion, and may be biased if the reviewer has had a poor experience due to their own behaviour.

Speak to the team

Got a few practices in mind? Give them a call or visit the practice in person to get an idea of how they act around patients.

Some practices may be open to sitting with you and sharing their specialities. Be sure to ask any questions that you need to to ensure you receive the care that you need.

Consider Convenience

Finding the GP with the best possible reviews is always something we want to strive towards, as the likelihood of good service is much higher (although you’ll rarely find a GP who doesn’t do their best to treat you with the utmost care).

Still, you should also consider how easy it is for you to get to your chosen surgery. If it’s a struggle to drive to or take public transport to a surgery that is further away than a slightly closer one, then it may affect how quickly or conveniently you can get the care required, particularly if you urgently need to see a GP.

Do I go private?

You may be considering whether going private is the way forward for you. While you’ll likely pay more than you would through an NHS GP, you may find that private GPs are:

• Easier to arrange consultations with
• Have access to cutting-edge technology
• More likely to have access to on-site testing facilities
• Able to offer more personalised care and consistency

If you’re considering going private or gaining access to a private GP alongside your NHS GP, view our locations page to see if there’s a MyHealthcare Clinic near you.

How do I register for a GP?

1. Find a GP

Follow the above tips to find a GP that is suitable for your needs and is convenient and accessible for you.

To find local NHS GPs, follow this link and input your postcode: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-gp

To find a local MyHealthcare Clinic GP, follow this link and input your postcode: https://myhealthcareclinic.com/locations/

Or to find other private GPs, consider using a tool like Find A Private GP.

2. Registration (Online and In-person)

Once you’ve decided on a GP surgery, navigate to their registration form. If you’ve opted for an NHS GP, you can register with most of them online. Before you begin registration, you may be asked about or require the following:

Registering for an NHS GP

To register for a local NHS GP practice, use the NHS GP Finder tool, and once you’ve found your selection, you’ll be given links to directly sign up for each surgery online. You’ll also see if the surgery is accepting new patients.

Registering for a private GP

To register for a private GP, you can usually do so through the private GP practice website or through a parent website. For instance, MyHealthcare Clinic has a singular registration that allows access to all MyHealthcare clinics.

Other private practices will likely have their own registration forms on their website.

You may also be able to contact the practice directly to register.

3. Confirmation of registration

When you’ve finished registration, you will need to wait for confirmation from that practice before you can request a consultation.

While unlikely, you may find that your registration is rejected if you live too far away from the practice or if the practice can no longer take on new patients.

How to change my GP

Changing GP Practices

You may wish to change your GP if you’ve moved, or you’re unhappy with the service provided.

If you’re looking to change NHS practices, simply follow the registration form for your preferred GP practice when you go through the NHS GP Finder.

If you are a MyHealthcare Clinic Member, simply make an appointment at another one of our clinics.

If you’re registered for a private practice, you should be able to register for another private or NHS practice with no issues. Please be aware that you may need to request that your medical details be released to your new clinic.

What are the differences between GPs?

There are a number of different GP types. Below, we briefly touch on how each GP operates. When selecting a practice, it may be helpful to consider what kind of GPs work there, as it may offer guidance on how easy it will be to get an appointment.

Salaried GPs

Salaried GPs are employed by an NHS organisation, a Primary Care Network, or directly by a GP practice. They have a fixed contract, which means set working hours, employment benefits, and a guaranteed income.

GP Partners

GP partners are co-owners of a GP practice. Alongside seeing patients, they also shoulder managerial and financial responsibilities for the practice, and may work longer hours.

Locum GPs

Locum GPs are self-employed and cover shifts at multiple practices. They can choose where and when they work.

Portfolio GPs

Portfolio GPs take on multiple roles, including research, leadership, education, and clinical practice. These GPs are often skilled in a number of areas, but may work fewer clinic hours due to their other roles.

How to change my details with my GP

Need to change important details for your GP? There are a number of straightforward methods that should make the process quick and easy.

NHS App Account

If you have an NHS App account, you can change details like your mobile number and email address through the NHS app.

GP Practice Website

Some GP practices have an account portal on their website, which may allow you to change details like:

• Your name
• Your marital status
• Your address/es
• Your telephone number/s
• Your email address
• Your preferred contact method

Phone or In-person

Some practices will allow you to call or visit them to change your details.

Private options

Private patients should visit their private practice website and see if they can change their details through a patient portal.

MyHealthcare Clinic members should be asked to change their details during their next visit to a clinic, or contact the Patient Support Department by phone or email. Please be prepared to provide proof of name or address.

Why aren’t GPs accepting new patients?

There are a number of reasons why GPs may not be accepting new patients, including both systemic issues and practice-specific issues.

Systemic Issues

Systemic issues for why GPs aren’t accepting new patients could be:

• Workforce shortages
• High workloads
• Staff burnout
• Funding issues

Practice-specific issues

Practice-specific issues for why GPs aren’t accepting new patients could be:

• Too far from the GP practice
• Lack of physical space
• No capacity for new patients
• GPs moving on to new clinics without a replacement

Can a Practice say no to your registration?

Practices have the right to refuse your registration. In general, this will most likely be due to you being too far from the clinic, or because their patient capacity is at maximum.

Register with a MyHealthcare Clinic GP today

At the MyHealthcare Clinic, we make registering for a private GP simple, and in doing so, allow you access to any one of our clinics.

If you’d like to register or book an appointment at a MyHealthcare Clinic, please proceed through our Booking system or call your preferred clinic directly. If you’d like to learn about our medical services, be sure to view our MyMedical page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I choose between a male and a female GP?

When you register for a practice, you won’t initially have the choice of whether you get a female or male GP, but you are well within your rights to request a male or a female GP when you book an appointment.

You should keep this in mind when you register for any practice, as some practices may be more weighted towards male or female GPs, limiting your options.

Please also be aware that even if you have a preference, the practice has no legal requirement to meet your need, and may refuse you if there are no doctors available, or your ailment needs to be seen urgently.

You may also need to wait longer for appointments if you wish to have specifically male or specifically female GPs.

How old do I need to be to see a GP on my own?

You are given access to your GP services when you are 13 years old, although you will need to speak to your GP to have this set up. They will check to ensure you can understand and keep your medical information safe.

Please note that your medical information is private, and the only people who should be able to manage or see it are you and your parents or guardian.

When can I contact my GP?

You are free to contact your GP at any time during practice open hours, although please be aware that there may be a wait depending on how many patients are on the line at any one time.

Typically, practice open hours are between 8 AM and 8 PM, and are closed at weekends. This can vary practice by practice, though, so be sure to look on your practice’s website to get specific opening hours.

If you need to speak to a medical professional outside of office hours, please call 111 to speak to an operator, who will take your details and put you through to a GP if required.

How can I contact my GP?

There are multiple ways to contact your GP.

Call or email: If you need to change or get information on an appointment, or change your personal information, you can simply call your practice.

Fill out an online form: Most practices now have an online booking system, which should be filled out. This is the most direct way to acquire a consultation with a GP.

What can I do if the practice is closed?

If the practice is closed and you need to speak to a GP urgently, call 111, where an operator will connect you to a GP if needed.

Can I bring a companion to my appointment?

Absolutely, as long as you are comfortable with your companion listening to your conversation with your GP, you can bring them along. Companions are most commonly family members, friends, carers, and interpreters.

Can I register for GP even if I’m not in the area for long?

Yes, you can register at a GP surgery as a temporary patient for up to 3 months. To sign up as a temporary patient, you’ll need to fill out a temporary services form.

Becoming a temporary patient is ideal for professionals who may be working away from home for an extended period, or if you’re visiting the UK from abroad.

If you still need a temporary patient status after 3 months, you may reapply.

Note: If your temporary registration is refused, you may still receive treatment for up to 14 days if it’s an immediate concern.

If you are a MyHealthcare Clinic patient, you do not need to worry about signing up as a temporary patient. You are welcome at all MyHealthcare Clinics across the UK, as and when you need them.

How do I manage with long NHS GP waiting times?

If you’re struggling to get an appointment with your GP, there are a few approaches you can take which may help you.

• Try to call the clinic as close to opening time as possible. You may be able to get hold of a receptionist who may be able to find a space for you, or you may be put on a callback list.
• GPs handle patients across practices. If you find it’s a struggle to get an appointment at your existing practice, consider researching other practices to gauge how easy it is to book appointments at them, and then switch GPs.
• Consider going private. Private GPs tend to have more availability.