For urgent but non-fatal health issues

THE 1 TASK:

Registering for a GP

The first place to go for healthcare in the UK is your local GP surgery. GPs are doctors who work in local medical centres called surgeries. You can visit a GP when you have general health issues, or require more specialist help or referral to other NHS services.

GP surgeries in the UK: 

• provide help in all aspects of general medicine e.g. child health, adult medicine and mental health;

• can arrange for you a referral to specialist if you need specialist help. You may have to wait for 2 weeks (and often longer) for the referral appointment letter. After receiving the letter, you can call the number on the letter and request an interpreter if you need one;

• provide other services such as care for pregnant women and their unborn children, vaccinations, contraception, health and diet advice, and clinics for long-term conditions like diabetes. 

How to Register with a GP surgery

In order to use these services, you need to register with a GP surgery in advance. You will need: 

• proof of your identity with your name and your date of birth,

• and proof of address

To register: 

Step 1: Find your nearest GP surgery in: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland

• To register with a GP in Northern Ireland, you will need to fill in the HSCR-1 form. Here you can find HSCR-1 forms in 11 languages. 

Step 2: Click on the GP surgeries’ websites. The GP surgeries will list whether they are accepting new patients. They will also provide detailed instructions on how to register as their patients. You can go over the website with an English-speaking friend.

Step 3: Follow the steps. You will have to register your family members one-by-one, and fill in separate forms to give details of medical histories for each family member. 

If you need help registering for a GP surgery, you can get in touch with: 

• your local Healthwatch;

• England: call the NHS England Customer Contact Centre: 0300 311 22 33;

• England and Wales: Citizens Advice;

• Scotland: National Services Scotland’s registration team;

• Northern Ireland: Contact Business Services Organisation and ask them to put your name on a doctor's list in your area

Making GP appointments

GP surgeries are generally open Monday to Friday between 8.30 am and 6 pm. Some are also open on Saturdays. Visiting a GP surgery is usually free, but you will have to make an appointment in advance. On your GP surgery’s website, they will provide you with phone numbers, email addresses, or online forms that you can use to make an appointment. You can also go to the surgery’s reception to make an appointment in person. 

If you are calling to make an appointment, the receptionist will ask for your name, date of birth, and/or postcode to check if you are registered with the GP. They may also ask for additional information like your symptoms, and if you have been taking treatments for the condition. Try asking for a friend to help you with the phone call if you are not certain about speaking in English on the phone.

How to get an interpreter

If you need an interpreter you must tell the receptionist when you make the appointment. They will book an interpreter for you or get an interpreter on the phone for your appointment. Normally they cannot arrange an interpreter if you didn’t ask for one in advance. It is important that you and the doctor understand each other so that he/she can make an accurate diagnosis of your problem. You will not be charged if you require an interpreter. Everything discussed in the consultation is confidential including anything discussed in the presence of an interpreter.

Find out more about registering with a GP in: England, Wales, Scotland. Northern Ireland

For information about registering with a GP and other general medical information in various languages, visit Translated health information for patients.

Not sure

OTHER SERVICES

Walk-in centres

When you cannot access a GP’s service, you can go to a NHS walk-in centre instead. Walk-in centres tend to open for longer hours than GP surgeries, and they are open also on weekends. You can consider going to a walk-in centre when: 

• It is outside of your GP surgery’s opening hours;

• you haven’t booked an appointment, or you need a same-day appointment (which most GP surgeries will not be able to accommodate);

• you have not yet registered with a GP surgery

A walk-in centre can offer very similar support to those of a GP surgery. But they are not for treating long-term conditions or life-threatening emergencies. Be prepared to wait for several hours to be seen, as they usually operate on a first-come-first-serve basis. 

Find a walk-in centre near you in: 

• England

• Scotland

• Wales: you can find available out of hours GP services here, or find help at NHS 111 Wales. 

• Northern Ireland: you are advised to call out of hours services for assistance first 

Dentists

There are NHS / HSC dentists in most towns, but places are limited and you may be asked to pay for treatment and checkups. 

Find a NHS / HSC dentist in: 

• England

• Wales

• Scotland

• Northern Ireland

If you need dental treatment in an emergency but you have not yet registered with a dentist, you can call NHS 111 for advice.