Figures released on online GP registrations

NHS England has announced that 425,000 NHS patients used the online GP registration service in its first year.

The Register with a GP surgery service is managed by NHS England and aims to provide patients with easier and more convenient access to GP registration.

Some GP surgeries still use paper forms, which means that patients need to visit the surgery to collect it. The new service can be accessed from home and has also been shown to save GP surgery staff up to 15 minutes per registration by helping to reduce paperwork and admin time.

Almost half (48%) of all patients using the online tool registered outside normal GP surgery opening hours.

More than 1,400 GP surgeries – one in five across the country – have already joined the NHS online registration service.

Plans to improve access to primary care have an aim of 2,000 practices to be enrolled with the Register with a GP surgery service by December 2023.

Stephen Koch, NHS England’s executive director of platforms, said: “We’re pleased to see one in five GP surgeries are now part of the national online Register with a GP surgery service, giving patients an improved experience and helping to reduce known barriers that exist with GP registration.

“Patients no longer have to visit a surgery to register as they can access the service any time, outside working hours, using the internet or NHS App.

“It is free for GP surgeries to use and saves them time by making the process much simpler.”

Dr Matt Curtis, a GP at Holycroft Surgery in Keighley, West Yorkshire, said:“Being able to register online saves people a trip into the practice to collect a paper registration pack, and it also saves time for our staff team as the information goes direct into the GP workflow seamlessly, making the process easier for everyone.

“The feedback is really positive – more and more people are gaining confidence to use digital tools for accessing health services. Registering with a GP online is easier and more convenient for many people.

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