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Patient, charity and patient advocacy group testimonials

The following patient feedback has been gathered during our work with patients and organisations that work with patients including under-represented groups to develop the service. This includes user research sessions.

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Patient testimonials

Accessible, no need to come into the practice

"I remember when I had my first child, I drove down to the practice to collect a registration form and spent about 30 minutes completing it. It was 3 forms in one and there were so many repetitive questions. I then had to wait for a couple of weeks for a response. 

However, for my second child the process was much quicker and easier. I was directed by my practice to register online using ‘Register with a GP surgery’ and was able to complete the form within 5 minutes. I didn’t need to leave my house and I received a response within 24 hours to let me know that my little one was registered."

for my second child the process was much quicker and easier. I was directed by my practice to register online using ‘Register with a GP surgery’ and was able to complete the form within 5 minutes. I didn’t need to leave my house and I received a response within 24 hours to let me know that my little one was registered.

Magnus Orubu

To go physically, you need to think about transportation, fare, how to get there, location,......it takes out that pressure
if you had a new born, you could do it online and not have to [bring] the baby out

Easy to use and convenient

“…Online is easier. I can see the info and it’s easier to correct mistakes.
… easy to understand. Quick and easy to do
This is much easier than going into practices to fill a form…you don’t even need a printer.
The registration process was easy and hassle-free overall.

You can track it

…it’s always better to fill out an online registration form, because then I’ll always have a record of when my application was made online… I can look back on that email and check it.
this way I know what I submitted is correct, no one can read [my] handwriting wrong

Charity testimonials

Groundswell

"The Register with a GP surgery service gives another option for people so they don't need to physically go into a practice with them to pick up or return paper forms. ID not being a requirement also breaks down barriers to registration and accessing vital NHS services."

Groundswell work with people with experience of homelessness.

Everyone has a right to good health and a right to access healthcare. In our work to enable this access we have encountered difficulties registering people with no fixed address or ID. These experiences helped inform the design of NHS England’s new online service.

National Voices

Jacob Lant, Chief Executive of National Voices said:

“We at National Voices, along with our members have been consistently calling for change to GP registration for some time.”

“So we are delighted to hear that this online registration service is already breaking down barriers for so many people and making registration more accessible and inclusive.”

“We hope to see more GP surgeries offering this service going forward.”

National Voices is the coalition of health and social care charities in England.

Significant barriers to GP registration are found particularly among those from Gypsy and Traveller communities, for people experiencing homelessness and for asylum seekers and refugees. Because this service does not require an address to register, we hope that this will help bring an end to wrongfully refused registrations and reduce health inequalities

Doctors of the World

Doctors of the World's expert National Health Advisors, who experienced difficulty accessing healthcare in the past, supported NHS England with the development of the new Register with a GP surgery service. 

This was a good opportunity to ensure the service was accessible to people who needlessly encounter barriers in accessing primary care and registering with a GP.  

"No one should be denied access to vital medical care due to administrative setbacks. The use of online translation tools will also enable individuals whose first language is not English to navigate and complete the registration process.”

Doctors of the World is an international health and human rights organisation.

Patient advocacy groups

Healthwatch England

"Not being able to register with a GP team has been a longstanding problem which the public has contacted Healthwatch about. This issue particularly affects people experiencing homelessness, those living on canal boats, and others without a fixed address.

Not only can these groups be blocked from accessing NHS GP support, but they subsequently can’t get the prescriptions they need, or the referrals for more specialised help from hospital teams.

We welcome NHS England’s work to remove registration barriers and recommend that all GP teams sign-up to Register with a GP surgery to make access to general practice as easy as possible for everyone"

Louise Ansari, Chief Executive, Healthwatch England

Last edited: 21 November 2023 2:24 pm