A GP Practice is a medical facility where General Practitioners (GPs) provide primary healthcare services to registered patients in the UK. These practices serve as the first point of contact within the NHS, offering consultations, health assessments, vaccinations, chronic disease management, and referrals to specialist services when needed. GP Practices typically include doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, and administrative staff working together to serve the local community.
GP Practices are the foundation of Primary Care Networks (PCNs), which were established in 2019 to bring practices together to work at scale. Typically, a PCN consists of multiple GP Practices covering 30,000-50,000 patients. Within this structure, practices maintain their independence but collaborate to share resources, staff, and expertise. They work together to deliver enhanced services, employ additional healthcare professionals (such as clinical pharmacists and social prescribers), and develop integrated care models with community services, improving patient access and outcomes.
GP Practices offer a comprehensive range of services including routine consultations (in-person, telephone, or online), health assessments, vaccinations, management of long-term conditions (such as diabetes and asthma), minor surgery, contraception services, maternity care, child health surveillance, and mental health support. Many practices also provide specialist services depending on local needs and the expertise of their staff. Additionally, GP Practices serve as coordinators of care, making referrals to secondary care and other community services when needed.
While the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there are subtle differences. A GP Practice specifically refers to a medical practice run by one or more General Practitioners providing primary care services. A health centre, on the other hand, is typically a larger facility that may house multiple GP Practices along with other community health services such as dental practices, pharmacies, physiotherapy, community nursing teams, and sometimes social care services. Health centres facilitate integrated care by bringing different healthcare providers together under one roof.
To register with a GP Practice in the UK, first find practices accepting new patients in your area using the NHS website or app. Contact your chosen practice to confirm they cover your address and are accepting new registrations. Visit the practice with proof of identity (passport or driving licence) and proof of address (utility bill or council tax statement). Complete a GMS1 registration form or the practice's own registration documents. Once registered, you'll be assigned a NHS number if you don't already have one, and your medical records will be transferred from your previous GP if applicable.
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