Over one million patients have utilized the national online ‘Register with a GP surgery’ service to register with a GP within the past 18 months since its inception.
NHS England oversees this service, allowing patients to conveniently register with a local GP online at any time without visiting the practice in person. One in three GP practices now offer this service, simplifying and streamlining the registration process.
In December, the Register with a GP surgery service expanded to 2,000 GP practices, surpassing the target ahead of schedule. All GP surgeries in England have been urged to provide this service from October 2024 according to the recently published GP contract.
Dr. Amanda Doyle, the national director of primary care and community services for NHS England, expressed the value of the service for patients and GP surgeries, with one million registration forms submitted online within the last 18 months.
Patients can access the service through individual GP surgery websites, the NHS website, and the NHS App. They can use translation tools for accessibility, and no ID or proof of address is required for registration.
Nicola Davies, practice manager at Roseland Surgeries in Cornwall and director of the Institute of General Practice Management, shared positive feedback from patients who appreciate the convenience of online registration without needing to contact the practice during operating hours.
