General Practice (GP)

General practitioners (GPs) are doctors who treat all common medical conditions.

Where necessary they can refer you to hospitals and other medical services for urgent and specialist treatment. They focus on the health of the whole person combining physical, psychological and social aspects of your care.

Your GP should usually be your first point of call for all medical questions and you will need to make an appointment.

You can book appointments with your GP practice online via their website or using the NHS app. If you can’t get online you can call your practice.

How to register

Anyone in England is entitled to register with a GP practice and to see a GP when they need to. You do not have to have a fixed address and you do not have to show ID, or proof of address or immigration status. In north east London you can simply register online.

How your GP practice team can help you

You will be asked what’s wrong and offered the quickest appointment with an appropriate medical professional. This may be over the phone, with a doctor (GP), but could also be with a nurse, physician associate, physiotherapist or another trained medical professional.

In some cases if you contact your GP practice with a minor illness that can be assessed and treated more quickly by a local pharmacist; with your consent, they will send an electronic referral to the community pharmacy of your choice for a same day consultation.

How and when can I access my GP practice?

You can book appointments with your GP practice online via their website or using the NHS app. If you can’t get online you can call your practice. GP appointments are available in evenings and on weekends and bank holidays.

GP appointments are available every weekday evening between 6.30pm-10pm (8pm in Hackney and City of London), and between 8am-8pm on weekends and bank holidays (9am-5pm on Saturdays in Hackney and City of London).

If you live in the City of London, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest or Newham you can book these appointments by calling your own GP practice as usual during working hours or, if you can’t wait till the next day or following Monday, by calling 111 out of hours.

If you live in Barking and Dagenham or Havering you can get an evening or weekend appointment by calling 020 3770 1888 from 8am to 8pm every day. In Redbridge call 020 3649 4499 or, if you can’t wait till the next day or following Monday, by calling 111 out of hours.

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Useful links

The following NHS links will help show you more on how to find a local GP, how to register and give you information on how to be seen.