Access to Primary Care

Everyone is entitled to register and consult with a General Practitioner (GP), free of charge.

However, our patients are often asked to produce ID or proof of address at GP registration and are turned away when are unable to do so. This practice conflicts with NHS England guidance which states that an inability to produce paperwork is not grounds to refuse patient registration.

In 2017, the Government adapted the GP registration form to include new questions about patient immigration status, even though this information isn’t required to register with a GP. They also made clear their intention to extend healthcare charging into primary care.

We oppose any plans to charge people to access primary care, and will continue to engage with policymakers to ensure that nobody in England is prevented from seeing a GP.