HOW DO I...
Register With The Practice?

Persons wishing to register are required to provide a single photographic proof of identity (eg passport, photo driving licence) and two items of correspondence (eg utility bill, council tax demand) showing their name and current address, the latter as proof of residency within our practice area. Copies of documentation may be taken and a decision concerning successful registration with the practice will be made within five working days of the application. To become a permanent patient on our practice list you will need to be resident within our practice area (see the map on the back cover of this booklet which shows the broad area - addresses close to the area boundary will need close analysis) and planning to be permanently resident for six months or more. For periods less than this we will register you as a temporary patient (this means that we will look after your medical needs but your medical records will remain with the practice at which you are already registered). If your period of residence subsequently extends to six months or more, you will then be changed to permanent status and your medical records will be obtained from your previous practice.

On registering as a permanent patient we will ask you to complete a questionnaire about your medical history. We will then invite you to make an appointment to see one of our nurses for a new patient medical to enable us to gather more basic information about your health. It is important that you take this opportunity to see one of our nurses as the consultation will fill our knowledge gap about you while we wait for your medical records to arrive from your previous practice - this can take several weeks.

When you register with us, you are registering with the practice and not with a specific doctor. You can, if you wish, state a preference for the doctor that you would like to see as your "preferred doctor". You can change this preference at any time by simply informing one of our receptionists. For continuity of care we encourage you to see the same doctor each time you come to the surgery. There will be times, however, when your preferred doctor isn't available to see you and when this happens we will provide an explanation and offer appointments with other clinicians.