New arrangements introduced from January 2015 give people greater choice when choosing a GP practice. Patients may approach any GP practice, even if they live outside the practice area, to see if they will be accepted on to the patient list.
The new arrangements mean GP practices now have the option to register patients who live outside the practice area but without any obligation to provide home visits.
Out of area registration (with or without home visits) is voluntary for GP practices meaning patients may be refused because they live out of area.
If your application is considered the GP practice will only register you without home visits if it is clinically appropriate and practical in your individual case. To do this we may:
– Ask you or the practice you are currently registered with questions about your health to help decide whether to register you in this way
– Ask you questions about why it is practical for you to attend this practice (for example, how many days during the week you would normally be able to attend)
– You should have a reason to attend this surgery, e.g. you work in the area, you or your child attends school in the area, you are a carer in the area.
– We will not just keep you registered or register you if you just want to be registered here. There must be a practical reason.
If accepted, you will attend the practice and receive the full range of services provided as normal at the surgery. If you have an urgent care need and the surgery cannot help you at home we may ask you to call NHS 111 and they will put you in touch with a local service.
We may decide that it is not in your best interests or practical for you to be registered in this way and advise you should seek to register (or remain registered) with a more local practice.
If accepted, but your health needs change we may review your registration to see if it would be more appropriate for you to be registered with a GP practice closer to your home
Please download and complete form here
For further information regarding Out of area registrations please click here
