Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to encourage people to register with a GP.

NHS England and NHS Improvement encourage people to register with a general practitioner (GP) through a number of routes. Recent standard operating procedures for GP practices in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic reinforce both the importance of practices continuing to accept new patients, including those most vulnerable, and facilitating registration remotely. This is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/managing-coronavirus-covid-19-in-general-practice-sop/

Communications ensuring general practice remains seen by the general public as open for business is a key priority and is supported by a dedicated pack for commissioners and GP practices to provide clear public messaging, which is available at the following link:

https://coronavirusresources.phe.gov.uk/nhs-resources-facilities/resources/nhs-primarycare-social/