Articles
Guides and articles to help you get care
Clear, practical guides on registering, booking and getting the right NHS care near you. Written in plain English and reviewed regularly.
How to register with a GP
Who can register, what you need, and the fastest way to do it.4 min readReadBrowse by topic
Booking a GP appointment
How to book a GP appointment by phone, online or in person, and what to do when you cannot get one.
Finding and registering with a GP
How to find an NHS GP surgery near you, register with it, and what to do if a surgery says no.
How to register with a GP
Who can register, what you need, and the fastest way to do it.4 min readReadRegistering with a GPHow to register with a GP as a student
Which surgery to register with at university, and what to do in the holidays.6 min readReadRegistering with a GPHow to find a GP near you that's accepting new patients
Search by postcode, check catchment areas and compare surgeries before you register.5 min readReadWhere to go for care
When to see your GP, a pharmacist, NHS 111, an urgent treatment centre or A&E, and when to call 999.
Pharmacy First and care without a GP
What a pharmacist can treat without a GP appointment, and the NHS services you can go to directly.
NHS and private care costs
What is free on the NHS, what you pay for, and when a private GP might be worth it.
Seeing a GP without ID, an address or UK residency
Your right to register with a GP if you have no ID, no fixed address, or have just arrived in the UK.
If you need urgent help, call 111 or go to 111.nhs.uk. If it is a life-threatening emergency, call 999.