More than 98% of GP practices offering online registration
Figures from NHS England show that the number of practices which patients can join online has more than doubled in the last 12 months, with more than 6,150 practices supporting registration through the NHS App, NHS.uk or surgery websites.
Almost all GP practices in England (98.4%) offer online registration and more than 3.8 million patients have used the online booking system since it launched in November 2022, including nearly 1.7 million in the last six months.
Dr Amanda Doyle, national director of primary care and community services at NHS England, said: “It is fantastic that almost all GP practices are now offering online registration making it easier than ever before for people to sign up to a GP or to switch at a time which is convenient for them.
“With the online service, people can see what is available to them and complete registration in a few simple steps from any location.”
Online booking is one of several which has been rolled out on the NHS App to help patients access care and drive efficiencies for the health service by saving admin time for GP practices.
NHS data shows that a prescription service launched in January 2024, enabled patients to order around 4.6 million repeat prescriptions and access more than six million test results directly through the app each month in 2024, freeing up an estimated 2.6 million GP practice hours.
Ming Tang, interim chief digital and information officer at NHS England, said: “Online GP registration, as well as advances in innovations like the NHS App, are making life easier for millions of patients and their families, while also saving huge amounts of valuable time for GP staff – helping boost NHS productivity.
“We’re working closely with the government to develop the 10 year health plan and create a blueprint for the move from analogue to digital healthcare so that even more patients will benefit from innovations and technologies like this for generations to come.”
The online registration service allows patients to check they are in the catchment area for the practice and they can use translation tools alongside the service, making it more accessible for those whose first language is not English.
Karin Smyth, health minister said: “I’m delighted that most GP practices now offer online registration.
“Whether you’re signing up with a GP for the first time or switching to a practice that better suits your needs, it is now easy to do at any time, any place, in just a few clicks.
“This is all about putting patients first, making it easier for people to access the care they need, when they need it.”
NHSE recently a ‘ping and book’ pilot which uses the NHS App to invite participants to their breast screening appointments.
The service is planned to be expanded to cervical screening in spring 2025 and that from early 2026 NHSE said that “millions of women” will be able to book breast screening appointments through the NHS App.
