Your GP in Reading

To change doctors in Reading:

1. Find a new doctors surgery: search for a GP practice located close to where you live or work. You can use online directories or the National Health Service (NHS) website to find doctors near you.
2. Contact the new doctors surgery: once you have chosen one, contact them by phone or visit their website to inquire about the registration process and check if they are accepting new patients.
3. Complete registration forms: The doctors practice will provide you with registration forms to fill out. These forms may require information such as your personal details, previous medical history, and NHS number (if you have one). You do not need to tell your old doctors that you are leaving - they will be notified automatically by the NHS when your registration with the new GP practice is confirmed.
4. Provide necessary documents: You may need to show proof of your identity during the registration process. If you already have an NHS Number it might speed up your registration if you have this to hand.
5. Attend an NHS Health Check (you will receive an invitation if you qualify). Your patient records will automatically be transferred from your old doctor to your new doctor. Your patient records will automatically be transferred from your old doctor to your new doctor, but it is still important to have a new patient health assessment with your new doctor so they can get a proper understanding of your health and healthcare needs.

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To register for a doctors surgery in Reading you typically need to follow these steps:

1. Find a local doctor's surgery: Search for a GP practice located close to where you live or work. You can use online directories or the National Health Service (NHS) website to find doctors near you.
2. Contact the doctor's surgery: once you have chosen one, contact them by phone or visit their website to inquire about the registration process and check if they are accepting new patients.
3. Complete registration forms: The GP practice will provide you with registration forms to fill out. These forms may require information such as your personal details, previous medical history, and NHS number (if you have one). 
4. Provide necessary documents: You may need to show proof of your identity during the registration process. If you already have an NHS Number it might speed up your registration if you have this to hand.
5. Attend an NHS Health Check (you will receive an invitation if you qualify). Your patient records will automatically be transferred from your old doctor to your new doctor.

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To Register for an NHS GP in Reading follow these steps:

1. Find a GP Surgery near you.
2. Westwood Road Health Centre is based in Reading and accepts patients from all of the surrounding area. Most services can be provided online or over the phone, but patients living further afield may not be eligible for some services, such as Home Visits.
3. Check that your chosen NHS GP is accepting new patients. Westwood Road Health Centre is accepting new patients.
4. Register with your chosen NHS GP. For Westwood Road Health Centre there are various ways to do this: completing the registration form on this website; via the NHS App; filling out the GMS1 form and bring it with you to the practice.

You don't need:

• Proof of Address
• Proof of Immigration Status
• ID Card
• NHS Number
• National Insurance (NI) Number
• the name of your current GP (if you have one)

If you haven’t registered with a GP in Reading before, we recommend using our online registration form. It’s important to complete the form accurately to ensure your registration gets accepted.

Once you’ve registered, if you qualify for an NHS Health Check you will be invited to attend one. This allows you to take actions to reduce your risk of developing serious conditions like heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes and some types of dementia.

Your new patient health assessment includes a health questionnaire, a check to ensure any repeat medications are up to date, in-person observations (such as measuring your blood pressure, pulse check, and BMI), blood tests (if clinically necessary and you’re aged between 40 and 74), and a consultation with a healthcare assistant to discuss your overall health and wellness.

At the end of your assessment, you’ll receive personalised advice to help you enjoy a healthier life for longer. And if needed, we can also book you in for a follow-up consultation.

No. You cannot be registered with two NHS GP surgeries at the same time. When your registration with Westwood Road Health Centre gets accepted by the NHS, you will no longer be registered at your previous NHS GP surgery.

Yes, students in Reading can register at Westwood Road Health Centre. You should register with a local GP if you’re a student and you spend the majority of your time at your university address. You can then get quick and easy access to care when. This is particularly important if you have a long-term health condition and need regular medication reviews.

You can register with Westwood Road Health Centre Surgery using our easy online registration form.

You need to register with a GP before you can get an appointment at a GP in Reading. However, in some cases, you can be registered as a temporary patient for up to 14 days and receive care despite not being a permanent patient.

No. You do not need to know your NHS number to register with a GP. Your NHS number is used to help identify your medical records, so your registration may be processed quicker if you do know it. However, we can still find your records without your NHS number. It’s important to complete the online registration form accurately to prevent delays with your registration.

Filling out the registration form itself should only take a few minutes.

After that your registration is processed by the GP Surgery (usually within 2-3 working days). 

Finally your registration has to be confirmed by NHS England.

The NHS states it can take 10 to 14 days to process your information and transfer your medical record from your previous NHS GP surgery (if you have one) to GP Reading (Westwood Road Medical Centre).

However, the process is often faster than this and can take as little as 2 to 3 days to be completed.

No, you do not have to pay to register with an NHS GP - anyone who lives in England can register with an NHS GP for free.