Socialized Medicine - How to Register with a GP

If you do not have access to private health care, there's a pretty good chance that you'll take advantage of NHS (National Health Service).  You can go to one of the several free clinics around the city if you have, for example, the flu.  Or you can go straight to the emergency room (A&E) if you've seriously injured yourself.

However you'll eventually want to get a GP (general practitioner).  Within the NHS system, you must see your GP first if you need non-emergency medical attention so that they can refer you to a medical specialist.    For instance if you have foot problems, you would need to see your GP so that he could refer you to a podiatrist.  Your GP is also one of the few people that can prescribe you medication.  You can get meds from the free clinic if you need it.  However, they will only write you a prescription once (no refills).  And due to health and safety gone amuck, they won't prescribe you meds unless you're knocking on death's door.


So how do you get a GP?  First you must go a practice and request a GMS1 form where you must provide your name, address, date of birth and your NHS number.  Don't have an NHS number?  Don't worry.  You can still sign up without one.  Some practices will also ask for a form of identification.  After submitting your filled out GMS1,  the GP practice will send your form off to the Primary Care Trust who will write to you and confirm that you're registered with the GP practice.

Now some practices will tell you that you can't register unless you have been in the country for a certain period of time.  That is not true!  If you are told this, demand to get the GMS1 anyway. There is not a residency requirement for signing up for a GP and any practice that claims there is is lying and should be reported immediately.

Once you are registered, then you can go to your GP for a physical and voila!  You can now partake in the NHS system. 


More Info:
How to Register
Finding GPs in Your Area
GP FAQs