Millions of patients can now register with a new GP at the touch
of a button via the NHS App and online as part of a major health
service drive to make care more convenient and free up staff
time.
New figures show the number of practices where patients can join
online has more than doubled in the last 12 months, with over
6,150 practices now supporting registration through the NHS App,
NHS.uk or surgery websites.
This means almost all GP practices in England (98.4%) are now
offering online registration – which takes a matter of minutes –
making it easier than ever for people to sign up or make the
switch to another GP surgery.
More than 3.8 million patients have used the online system since
it launched in November 2022, including nearly 1.7 million in the
last six months.
The move is one of several new features being rolled out on the
NHS App to help patients access care when and where they need it,
while driving significant efficiencies for the health service by
saving millions of hours of admin time for GP practices.
New NHS data shows the innovations enabled patients to order
around 4.6 million repeat prescriptions and access over 6 million
test results directly through the app each month last year,
freeing up an estimated 2.6 million practice hours.
The NHS is advising people to continue to seek care when they
need it over the Easter bank holiday weekend – either through
their local pharmacy, NHS111 online, via the app and in an
emergency through A&E or by calling 999.
Dr Amanda Doyle, National Director of Primary Care and
Community Services at NHS England, said “It is fantastic
that almost all GP practices are now offering online registration
making it easier than ever before for people to sign up to a GP
or to switch at a time which is convenient for them.
“With the online service, people can see what is available to
them and complete registration in a few simple steps from any
location.
“So if you have been putting off registering for a new GP
practice, please check the NHS App or website for options local
to you – it's never been simpler to do and you never know when
you will need to book an appointment.”
Ming Tang, Interim Chief Digital and Information Officer
(CDIO) at NHS England, said:“Online GP registration, as
well as advances in innovations like the NHS App, are making life
easier for millions of patients and their families, while also
saving huge amounts of valuable time for GP staff – helping boost
NHS productivity.
“We're working closely with the Government to develop the 10-year
Health Plan and create a blueprint for the move from analogue to
digital healthcare so that even more patients will benefit from
innovations and technologies like this for generations to come.”
Health Minister, , said: “I'm delighted
that most GP practices now offer online registration. Whether
you're signing up with a GP for the first time or switching to a
practice that better suits your needs, it is now easy to do at
any time, any place, in just a few clicks.
“This is all about putting patients first, making it easier for
people to access the care they need, when they need it.
“As part of our Plan for Change, this government is transforming
the NHS from analogue to digital, and getting it back on its
feet, so that we have a healthcare system that's fit for the
future.”
Anyone wishing to register with a GP practice no longer needs to
visit the practice and can instead complete registration at any
time to suit them in just a few clicks – however they can also
still collect a paper form from their local GP practice if they
prefer.
The service has many timesaving features for patients, including
checking they are in the catchment area for the practice, and
they do not need ID, an NHS number or proof of address to
register.
People registering online can also use translation tools
alongside the service, making it more accessible for those whose
first language is not English.
Bex Cottey, Practice Business Manager at Conisbrough
Group Practice near Doncaster, said: “We've been
offering online registration using the Register with a GP surgery
service for over a year. We find it really useful, especially
when people are wanting to register a whole family. They can do
it in their own time, they're not standing at the front desk for
hours, filling in everybody's information.”
“We would often have people that couldn't remember the name of
the medication their child was using, and they would have to go
home, look it up and come back with the paper registration. This
is now a thing of the past, though we do have the new look
paper form for anyone that needs it.”
Jess Boyes, Care Navigator supervisor at The Roxton
Practice in Immingham, North East Lincolnshire, said:
“I've used it to register my daughter and it's easy. You follow
the questions, you put in the detail and it goes off and then
it's done. You've not got to worry about dropping it off at the
surgery or keeping the forms safe.
“All of our reception team at the practice and the practice
managers feel the online service has significantly reduced
pressure on the team."
Patient Joey Tatman added: “Registering my
daughter online was done with such ease. She unfortunately was
quite poorly and remained in hospital in Leeds for months and
being able to register her online with the Roxton Practice took
some pressure off us as it was done within a few clicks, and we
were able to remain at her bedside while we did it.”
