What is General Practice (GP)?
In the UK, General Practice (GP) is the first point of contact for most people’s healthcare needs. GPs are qualified doctors who provide a wide range of services:
- Diagnosing and treating common illnesses and injuries (colds, flu, earaches, etc.)
- Prescribing medication
- Providing routine health checks (blood pressure checks, vaccinations, etc.)
- Offering referrals to specialists for more complex medical issues
- Advising on preventative healthcare, healthy living and mental wellbeing
Benefits of Having a GP:
- Continuity of care: You build a relationship with your GP over time, allowing them to understand your individual medical history and provide more personalised care.
- Accessibility: GP surgeries are usually located in convenient locations within communities.
- Free at the point of access: Most GP services are free for UK residents with a valid NHS number (You will get your unique NHS number when you register with a GP).
Registering with a GP Surgery
As an international student with a valid visa, you’ve already paid an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) which grants you access to NHS services and register with a GP.
Eligibility:
- Anyone legally living in the UK can register with a GP surgery, regardless of immigration status.
Registration Process:
- Find a GP surgery: You can search for a GP surgery near you on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-gp
- Contact the surgery: Most surgeries allow online registration, but you can also call them to register by phone.
- Complete a registration form: This form will ask for basic information like your name, address, and medical history.
- Attend a registration appointment: The surgery might ask you to attend a new patient appointment to discuss your medical history and register you formally.
- Receive confirmation: Once registered, you’ll receive confirmation from the surgery and details on how to book appointments.
Additional points:
- You can usually choose any GP surgery within your local area, although some surgeries might have a waiting list for new patients.
- You can register with one GP surgery at a time, but you can change surgeries if you move house or for any other reason.
By registering with a GP, you gain access to essential primary healthcare services in the UK. It’s a simple process that ensures you can receive timely and appropriate medical care when needed in the UK.
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