FAQ - Registering with a GP in Liverpool: understanding your rights
Why should I register with a GP?
A GP is a local family doctor and usually your first contact if you have a health problem. You need to be registered with a GP to get most medicines, hospital referrals, tests and treatments as well as invitations to vaccinations and cancer screening. Anyone in England can register and be seen by a GP free of charge.
It is important to register with a local GP as soon as you can when you move house or when you arrive in England, so you can see the GP or a member of their practice team when you are sick.
How do I know which GP practice I can register with?
Each GP practice has a catchment area. If you live within this catchment area you will usually be able to register with them. You can usually find a practice’s catchment area on their website. The Live Well directory includes an entry for all Liverpool practices with their practice boundary attached.
You can find your nearest GP surgery using the NHS find a GP web page. Click on 'How to register with this GP surgery' to check if you live in the catchment area.
If you need help to find which practices cover your address in Liverpool contact us.
Occasionally a GP practice might get permission to “close its list”. This means that for a period of time they will not take on more patients (other than a new family member of an existing patient e.g. a new baby, adopted child or family member moving in to receive care). If a Liverpool GP practice tells you its list is closed please contact us for further information and details of other practices with open lists.
How do I choose which GP practice to register with?
Once you have found out which practices cover your address you need to choose which one you want to register with. Different people have different priorities. You might choose one that family or friends use, or the one that is closest to where you live, or the most convenient to get to.
You can find information on patient satisfaction results here: https://www.gp-patient.co.uk/
If I have moved should I also move my GP practice?
If you have moved outside your GP practice catchment area you should register with a practice in your new area. This will be important if you need to use health services locally or if you ever need a home visit.
Do I need proof of address to register with my GP?
NHS guidelines state that you don't need proof of address, immigration status, ID or an NHS number to register with a GP. However, some GP surgeries ask for supporting documentation.
They might have a few reasons to do this:
- It can help the surgery find your medical records or transfer them from another practice.
- It confirms that you live in the surgery's practice area if they do not accept patients from outside this area.
If you don't have a permanent address, you can still register using a temporary address or the address of the GP surgery.
Do I need identification to register with my GP?
You do not have to provide an ID when registering with a GP, but it does help. Below is a list of documents that you can use as ID:
- Passport
- Birth certificate
- Biometric residence permit
- Travel document
- HC2 certificate
- ARC card
- Utility bill
How do I register?
You can now register online with most practice from their websites. It takes around 15 minutes to complete an online GP registration. You need to complete the process in one session. If you are registering more than one person make sure to give yourself enough time. Your chosen GP surgery should register you within 5 days of receiving your details.
If you prefer you can print off and return a paper registration from or collect a paper from the practice. Fill in the Register with a GP surgery paper form and take it to the surgery you want to join.
What else might I need to do?
Some GP practices ask new patients to complete a health survey or to attend a new patient medical check with a practice nurse. This is so that they have an understanding about your health needs.
Registering children
Children under 16 need to be registered by their parent or guardian. This usually means filling in a separate form. You may also be asked to provide a form of ID to prove that you're their parent or guardian. If you have a personal child health record (red book) from the birth of your child, it will help to provide this.
If you have a new baby register them with your GP practice as soon as possible after birth. The practice will then contact you to book their 6 week check and first immunisation appointments.
What could stop me from being able to register at a particular GP practice?
There could be several reasons a GP may refuse your registration. But they must explain why in writing within 14 days. The GP has the right to refuse if:
- The practice isn't currently accepting new patients.
- You don’t live in their catchment area.
- you have been removed from that surgery before.
- You are on the “special allocation scheme”
What can I do if I have problems registering with a GP surgery?
- Call the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Patient Experience Team on 0800 132 996 or
- If you live in Liverpool contact us for information and advice
Here are some ways that you can make a complaint:
- By email: enquiries@cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk
- By post: Patient Experience Team, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, No 1 Lakeside, 920 Centre Park Square, Warrington, WA1 1QY
- By phone: 0800 132 996 (Telephone Interpreter Service available)
I want to change my GP practice. Do I have to give a reason?
No, you don't have to tell your practice why you want to change or your new one why you made that decision.
You'll need to fill in a registration form. A request will then be made to your current GP to transfer your medical records to the new GP surgery.
Can I access GP care when I'm temporarily away from home?
If you become unwell or need other medical treatment when you're at home or not staying near your GP, you can contact your nearest practice to ask for treatment.
You can receive emergency treatment for 14 days. After that, you will have to register as a temporary resident or permanent patient.
You can also visit an NHS urgent treatment centre / walk in centre. You don't need an appointment, and you don't need to be registered. They can treat minor injuries or illnesses such as cuts, bruises and rashes. They aren't designed for treating long-term conditions or life-threatening problems.
Registering as a temporary patient
You can register with a GP practice as a temporary patient for up to three months. To register, you must fill out a temporary services form (GMS3) from GP surgeries.
After three months, you must reapply to register as a temporary resident or become a permanent patient.
How do I access care if I have been removed from a practice list?
There are several ways people might be removed from a GP practice list.
- If you have been removed from your GP practice list because of moving out of their catchment area you can choose a practice in your new area
- If you have been removed from their list because of a breakdown in relationship you can find another practice in your area and ask them to register you.
Information in other languages
Doctors of the World have produced translated health information in many languages including on how to register with a GP.
Need more advice?
If you have any more questions about how to register with a GP, get in touch.
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