New Patient Registration
Patients normally resident within the practice area who wish to register with Gower Medical Practice should obtain and complete, for each person registering, a ‘Family Doctor Services Registration’ form (GMS1) and a Lifestyle Questionnaire (over the age of five years only). These forms can be obtained from reception at either surgery.
Each patient (over five years of age) will then have an appointment made with one of our practice nurses or healthcare assistant for a ‘new patient check’ lasting approximately 10 minutes which will include the testing of a specimen of urine (specimen bottles are available from reception). Patients will be advised on the procedure to obtain repeat medication. Before this can be authorised you will need to be seen by one of the doctors.
As a newly registered patient, you will be registered with Gower Medical Practice rather than an individual GP. However, patients can request to be seen by the practitioner of their choice, by legal right.
Where a patient exercises this right:
- the patient may have to wait longer to see their preferred practitioner
- the patient may be asked to accept an alternative if, for example, the service required is now being delivered by another professional member of the practice.
Patients registered with Gower Medical Practice, between the ages of 16 and 74 years, who have not attended the practice within the previous three years, are entitled to request a review. Patients aged 75 years or over, who have not participated in a consultation within the previous 12 months, can request a consultation which may take place in the home of the patient if it is thought inappropriate for them to attend at either of the practice premises.
Registered patients who move house to a location outside the practice area but wish to remain registered with Gower Medical Practice will need to write to the practice advising us of their change of address. Consideration will then be given by the partners on the feasibility for that patient to remain registered with the practice and patients will be notified accordingly.