New Patient Registration

Before filling out a registration form, check you are in our catchment area by entering your postcode below

Catchment Area

We accept new patients from the area stated above. If you live outside of the catchment area, please register with a surgery nearer your home.

You can find out which GPs you can register with on the NHS website.

We currently have a number of developments being built within our boundary area so if you are moving into one of these and think your postcode is within our area, please contact reception as it can take a little while for new postcodes to be recognised.

Registering with the Surgery

To Register with the Surgery:

  • Complete an NHS register with a GP surgery: Swallowfield Medical Practice form online
  • Download and print a paper registration form and bring to the surgery
  • Obtain a new patient registration form from the surgery
  • Bring Acceptable proof of ID (Passport, Birth certificate or current UK driving licence)
  • Proof of Address for each Household (Rental or housing agreement, a recent utility bill showing your current address or a current UK driving licence.

When you register, it’s helpful to have your NHS number. You can use the NHS website to find your NHS number.

You will need to fill in a registration form for each patient registering with the practice

As part of registering you’ll also be asked for:

  • The name and address of an emergency contact
  • The name and address of the GP you’re registered with now, if you have one
  • The name and address of your carer, if you have one

New Patients

All new patients over the age of 16 years are requested to fill in a new patient health questionnaire, as it can take about 6 weeks for your medical records to reach us. This provides us with valuable information on your health and needs.

Children under the age of 5 years are put in touch with the health visitors, there is an additional form that needs completing for the health visitor.

If you know someone in your household or a neighbour who is not registered with a local doctor, please encourage them to do so. If a person lives in the area for more than 3 months they should fully register with the practice, even if they have no immediate need for medical care. Visitors staying for less than 3 months can register as temporary residents if they need medical care whilst they are in the area.

If you are staying temporarily within our boundary area and need to see a GP or nurse, please contact reception to discuss your needs and they will tell you what you need to do to register as a temporary patient.

Practice boundaries often cross over, so the general rule is that if you are staying with someone (friend/family/relative) we would normally expect you to be seen by the practice they are registered with. If you are here for work or visiting and staying in a hotel or guest house etc. you can ask to be seen at any GP practice that covers that area.

Reception can be contacted on 0118 988 3134, 8:30am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday. If we are closed please call NHS 111 for advice and assistance.

Online Alternative

If you have the NHS App, you can use it to change GP surgery.

You’ll be asked to agree for some of your details to be shared with the new GP surgery.

You must already be registered with a GP surgery to use the NHS App.

Change GP Surgery via NHS

Tell your GP surgery directly if your address has changed, or you need to update any other personal details, but do not want to change surgery

Registering a baby or child

Children under 16 usually need to be registered by their parent or guardian. This means filling in a separate form.

You may also:

  • need to be registered with the same GP surgery as the child
  • need to provide proof of ID and address for the child you’re registering, such as their birth certificate
  • be asked to provide ID by the surgery to prove you’re the parent or guardian of the child

It can help to provide their personal child health record (red book), if you have it.

Registering someone you care for

You can register someone you care for, including if you’re a paid, unpaid, foster or young carer.

We’ll ask for your details as well as the details of the person you’re registering.

Information:

Registering someone you care for under the Mental Capacity Act

If someone over 16 is unable to register with a GP because they cannot make decisions about their care, registration can be done by:

a person appointed by a court under the Mental Capacity Act

a relative

the main carer

a lasting power of attorney

You can register permanently with a GP surgery outside your local area, such as near where you work.

Not all GP surgeries accept patients from outside their area. You can check whether a GP surgery does:

  • by contacting the GP surgery
  • Finding a GP and filtering for “Accepts out of area registrations” on the results page
  • on the GP surgery’s own website

Non-urgent advice:

Registering with a GP surgery outside of your local area may affect the NHS services you can access, including:

  • home visits and urgent care from your GP, including out-of-hours care
  • community services like physiotherapy and midwife appointments

Speak to the GP surgery and ask them to explain what happens for these services when you register.