A GP (General Practitioner) is your local doctor. In the UK everyone registers with one GP surgery near where they live. The NHS is free — you pay nothing for appointments as a student (you already paid the NHS surcharge with your visa).
Use the Health tab in this app to search GP surgeries by your postcode. Tap any result to see their address, phone number, and a link to register.
Most surgeries have a registration form on their own website. Some require you to call or walk in. You will need your name, date of birth, address, and NHS number if you have one — if not, leave it blank.
After registering you will receive a letter with your NHS number. Keep this safe — you will need it for future appointments, prescriptions, and hospital referrals.
Once registered you can book appointments by phone, online, or via the NHS App. For non-urgent issues you may wait 1–2 weeks. For urgent issues, ask for a same-day appointment.
NHS appointments are free but prescriptions are not — each item costs £9.90 unless you are under 19 in full-time education (then free). Ask your GP for a prepayment certificate if you need regular medication — it saves money.
If you need medical advice urgently but it is not an emergency, call 111 (free, 24/7). They will tell you whether to go to A&E, see a GP, or treat at home. Do not go to A&E unless it is a genuine emergency.