Catchment area
Before filling out a registration form, check you are in our catchment area.
We accept new patients from the area within the black line. If you live outside of the black line, please register with a surgery nearer your home.
We currently have a number of developments being built within our boundary area so if you are moving into one of these and think your postcode is within our area, please contact reception as it can take a little while for new postcodes to be recognised.
You can also find out which GPs you can register with on the NHS website.
Registering with the surgery
To register with the surgery:
- complete a NHS Register with a GP: Swallowfield Medical Practice form online
- download and print a GMS1 form (PDF) and bring to the surgery
- obtain a new patient registration form from the surgery
When you register, it’s helpful to have your NHS number. You can use the NHS website to find your NHS number.
You will need to fill in a registration form for each patient registering with the practice.
If you are in any doubt please speak to a receptionist. It is better to register the whole household. No discrimination will be made in regard to race, gender, social class, age, religion, sexual orientation, appearance or on grounds of disability or medical condition.
We are required to ask to see proof of ID for each patient and proof of address for each household registering with the surgery.
Acceptable proof of ID includes a passport, birth certificate or current UK driving licence, and acceptable proof of address includes a rental or housing agreement, a recent utility bill showing your current address (council tax statement, gas, electric, telephone or water), a recent bank statement or a current UK driving licence.
Patients will only need to bring in one of each type of document. An up-to-date UK drivers licence showing your current address can be taken as proof of both ID and address.
New patients
All new patients over the age of 16 years are requested to fill in a new patient health questionnaire, as it can take about 6 weeks for your medical records to reach us. This provides us with valuable information on your health and needs.
Children under the age of 5 years are put in touch with the health visitors, there is an additional form that needs completing for the health visitor.
Non-registered patients
If you know someone in your household or a neighbour who is not registered with a local doctor, please encourage them to do so. If a person lives in the area for more than 3 months they should fully register with the practice, even if they have no immediate need for medical care. Visitors staying for less than 3 months can register as temporary residents if they need medical care whilst they are in the area.
Non-English speakers
These fact sheets have been written to explain the role of UK health services, the National Health Service (NHS), to newly-arrived individuals seeking asylum. It covers issues such as the role of GPs, their function as gatekeepers to the health services, how to register and how to access emergency services.
Special care has been taken to ensure that information is given in clear language, and the content and style has been tested with user groups.
Temporary patients
If you are staying temporarily within our boundary area and need to see a GP or nurse, please contact reception to discuss your needs and they will tell you what you need to do to register as a temporary patient.
Practice boundaries often cross over, so the general rule is that if you are staying with someone (friend/family/relative) we would normally expect you to be seen by the practice they are registered with. If you are here for work or visiting and staying in a hotel or guest house etc. you can ask to be seen at any GP practice that covers that area.
Reception can be contacted on 0118 988 3134, 8:30am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday. If we are closed please call NHS 111 for advice and assistance.