GP services FAQ

GP practice teams provide medical advice, treatment, and ongoing care for non-emergency health needs. Your GP team can assess your symptoms, offer support, and help you access the right service at the right time.

GP services: accessing care and support in your community

What do GP services provide?

Your local GP practice offers a wide range of NHS services, including:

  • Medical advice and diagnosis
  • Treatment for illness and injury
  • Vaccinations and immunisations
  • Routine health checks
  • Prescriptions and medicines management
  • Support for long-term conditions
  • Referrals to other NHS services

Where can I find out how to register with a GP surgery?

To find a GP practice near you and check opening times and services available, visit the NHS website

Who works in a GP practice?

GP practices are staffed by multidisciplinary teams. This means you may be offered an appointment with the professional best suited to your needs.

You may see:

  • GPs
  • Practice nurses
  • Nurse practitioners
  • Physiotherapists
  • Clinical pharmacists
  • Mental health practitioners
  • Paramedics
  • Health and wellbeing coaches
  • Social prescribing link workers

Seeing the right professional can often mean you are seen more quickly and receive more appropriate care.

Appointment types

Appointments may be:

  • Face to face
  • By telephone
  • By video
  • Online (written advice)

Your practice will recommend the most suitable option based on your needs.

Accessing GP services

You can contact your GP practice:

  • By phone
  • Online
  • Through the NHS App (where available)
  • In person

You will be asked for brief information about your request so the team can assess what support is needed.

After review, you may receive:

  • A booked appointment (same day or later)
  • Written or digital advice
  • A referral to another NHS service
  • Advice to contact NHS 111 or attend urgent care

Access arrangements vary between practices depending on local systems and capacity.

Care navigation and reception teams

Reception and care navigation staff are trained to discuss your concerns confidentially and professionally.

They use this information to:

  • Direct you to the right clinician
  • Arrange appropriate appointments
  • Signpost you to other services

This helps you get the right care as quickly as possible.

GP online services

Most GP practices in Essex offer online services through their website or the NHS App.

These may allow you to:

  • Contact your practice for advice
  • Book or cancel appointments
  • Request repeat prescriptions
  • Update contact details
  • View parts of your medical record
  • Check test results (where available)

Online consultations

Online consultation tools allow you to contact your practice securely without visiting or waiting on the phone.

You can use these to:

  • Describe symptoms
  • Ask questions
  • Request follow-up
  • Contact the practice on behalf of someone you care for

Your GP team will use this information to decide the most appropriate response.

When should I use another service?

Use NHS 111 if:

  • You need urgent advice outside normal opening hours
  • You are unsure what service to use

Use your local pharmacy for:

  • Minor illnesses
  • Medicines advice
  • Self-care support

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

  • You have chest pain
  • Severe breathing difficulties
  • Signs of stroke
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Serious injury

Using the right service helps you get care more quickly.

GP services: frequently asked questions (FAQs)

NHS England’s guide You and Your General Practice explains:

  • What services GP practices provide
  • What you can expect from your practice
  • How to give feedback or raise concerns

The guide is available in multiple languages.

[View translated versions of the guide]

You can register with any GP practice that covers the area where you live.

You do not need proof of ID or address. If you have them, you may bring:

  • Passport or birth certificate
  • HC2 certificate
  • Rough sleepers’ identity badge
  • Hostel letter
  • Mail forwarding letter

If you are homeless, you can use a temporary address, including the practice address.

A practice may not register you if:

  • You live outside their catchment area
  • They are not accepting new patients

If this happens, you should contact another nearby practice.

If you have difficulty registering, contact NHS Essex for support.

No. Many conditions can be managed by other trained professionals in the practice, such as nurses, pharmacists, or physiotherapists.

This helps you get appropriate care more quickly.

Yes. You can explain your preference, but the practice will recommend what is clinically appropriate.

Urgent problems are prioritised. Less urgent issues may be offered later appointments or advice.

Yes. You can apply for proxy access to manage services for someone you care for, such as a child or vulnerable adult.

Fit notes are usually provided after an assessment by a clinician. Contact your GP practice to request one.

FAQs on Changes to GP services

A practice may request closure for operational reasons. They must:

  • Explain why closure is necessary
  • Consider alternative options
  • Gather patient and stakeholder views

NHS Essex ICB reviews the evidence and makes the final decision.

In rare cases, a practice may close urgently due to safety concerns raised by the Care Quality Commission.

If a practice proposes relocation or a new branch, it must:

  • Demonstrate patient benefit
  • Explain service arrangements
  • Gather public feedback

NHS Essex ICB reviews proposals before approval.

Practices will inform patients through:

  • Letters, emails, or text messages
  • Website updates
  • Posters and leaflets
  • Public meetings or surveys

Practices must:

  • Submit a formal case for change
  • Carry out patient and stakeholder engagement
  • Provide equality and impact assessments

Proposals are reviewed by a local ICB Committee.

No. If a practice closes or relocates, NHS Essex ICB works with local practices to ensure patients can register elsewhere.

You always have the right to choose a GP practice.

If your practice is planning changes, information will be available via:

  • Practice communications
  • Local notices
  • Direct contact

You can also contact the practice if you need information in an alternative format.

Related content