General practitioners
They are your first point of call whenever you have a health problem, so make sure you're happy with your lot.
Finding a doctor
If you are living in an area for more than three months you should register with a local GP. Some of the ways you can find a decent GP include:
- Asking friends and family to recommend a doctor;
- If you are unable to find a GP yourself you can request your Primary Care Trust or local health board to find you one;
- In England and Wales you can find details of GPs on NHS Direct. The directory provides detailed information about the surgery and its registered GP;
- Some practices have their own charters which describe the standards of services a patient can expect and the arrangements they provide. Ask if this is available at reception.
Registering with a doctor
If you're a UK resident and over 16 you can register with a doctor of your choice, but if you're under 16, you must be registered by a parent or guardian. The downside is the GP doesn't have to accept you and may want to see you before registering you. If they do refuse to accept you, they must outline their reasons in writing.
Take your medical card, which gives your personal details and NHS number, with you to register. Fill in part A of the card and hand it to the GP or practice staff. You can also register without a medical card by completing a GMS1 form, which should be available at the surgery.
If you're staying in an area for less than three months you can approach any local GP and ask to be seen as a temporary resident. Students should register in the area where they spend most of the year. If you register with a practice near campus, then you will no longer be registered at home with your previous GP. When you return home during holidays, ask to be treated as a temporary resident there.
Don't fret if you haven't managed to register with a practice; GPs are required to provide emergency treatment even if you're not registered with them.
What to expect
When you first register, you should be given a copy of the practice leaflet telling you when the surgery is open, how to make an appointment, which health professionals are based at the surgery, and the other services and clinics they operate.
Over 16s are entitled to confidential advice and treatment. If you are under 16 and want a confidential consultation, you must make it clear that you don't want your parents or guardians to be told. In this situation, your doctor can refuse to see you if they're unwilling to accept your request for confidentiality.
Asking for help
No matter how embarrassed you are about your problem, it's likely your GP will have seen it all before. Try to remember that it's their job to deal with all manner of health problems, but if you're still not comfortable, you can always request to be treated by a different GP. Whatever the case, the most important thing is to get your condition seen immediately - the longer you leave it the more serious the condition could become.
Consent to medical treatment
You have the right to stop or refuse treatment at any stage, unless you have been sectioned. If you're under 16, you can only give consent to treatment provided your GP is satisfied you fully understand what's involved, otherwise your parents or guardians will have to give consent on your behalf. If you're under 18 and refuse treatment, a person with parental responsibility or medical staff can seek a court order to override you.
Try to discuss any concerns you have about your GP's suggested treatment as soon as possible. The doctor is obliged to describe other available forms of treatment and will be able to give you all the information you need to make an informed decision. A GP doesn't have to prescribe a certain medication or treatment if they believe it isn't the right choice for you, so you may not be guaranteed to get the exact treatment you want.
See our article, GPs: The alternatives, for advice about getting a second opinion and making a complaint about your GP.
Prescriptions and charges
If a GP decides you need medication, they will usually give you a prescription to take to a pharmacy. A GP must supply any drugs needed for immediate treatment in an emergency and there are no prescription charge for these.
Unless you're eligible for free or reduced costs you will have to pay for your prescription. A single item on a prescription costs £7.10. In some instances, you may be able to buy the prescribed medicine cheaper over the counter - ask your pharmacist if you're unsure.
Out-of-hours services
All GPs must ensure a service is provided for their patients when they are off duty. This service is usually provided in the form of a telephone number which patients can call out of hours.
GPs may also offer a home-visit service, but you can't insist that a GP visits you at home. They'll only do this if they think that your condition requires it and they will decide how urgently the visit is needed.
