GPs are family doctors and are normally the first health professionals you see when you have an illness or injury that will not go away.
It is free of charge to see a GP.
You need to register with the GP practice before you can see a Doctor.
There are around 100 GP practices in Leeds so you should be able to find one local to where you live. You can find your nearest GP practice on the NHS Choices website.
Registering with a GP
To register with a GP practice, contact them and ask for a registration form. You can do this in person or by phone. You will need to fill this registration form in and take it back to the GP practice.
To register with a GP, you will need to show your grant of status letter, your Immigration Status Document or Biometric Residence Permit if you have it, and, if possible, a proof of your address.
A doctor’s surgery will generally only accept people who are living or staying in their local area.
If you need help filling in your GP registration form, you can take someone with you or you can ask for an interpreter to help you.
If you need an interpreter, please phone the GP practice before you go, and ask for them to arrange for you.
After you register, you will be given a comprehensive health check by a nurse at the surgery, and The GP Practice will send you a letter containing your NHS Number.
Your NHS Number is used to help identify your health records. It will be on any letter or document you have received from the NHS, such as prescriptions, test results, and appointment letters.
If you have problems registering with a GP
If the GP already has too many patients, they can refuse to register you.
The GP practice is not allowed to refuse to register you because you cannot provide proof of your address or a passport.
If the GP Surgery refuse to register you because you do not have the ID they want, you must contact Healthwatch Leeds, who will help you to register.
Healthwatch Leeds
0113 898 0035
Keeping information private
You can trust your GP or nurse to keep any information you tell them safe and private.
Sometimes they may need to share information about you with other services to help you get the right treatment (for example, the hospital). They will always ask your permission to do this.
If they think you or someone else is at immediate risk of serious harm, they may share information without getting permission to protect you or other people.
The people they would share this information with would usually be the Police or Social Services.
If you are worried about this, ask you Doctor to explain their privacy policy and when they might breach your confidentiality.
