We are proud to be a safe surgery for everyone in our community, and pledge to ensure that everyone in our community receives the quality healthcare they are entitled to.
In partnership with Doctors of the World UK, we will ensure that our practice offers a welcoming space for everyone who seeks to use our services. We will ensure that a lack of identification, proof of address, or immigration status do not prevent patient registration. As a member of the Safe Surgeries community, we will endeavour to support other Safe Surgeries and the development of the network.
We are a Safe Surgery for everyone in our practice area.
We might ask for ID or proof of address. But if you don’t have any and you live in our practice area, you can still register with us.
We won’t ask for immigration documents.
What it means to be a Safe Surgery
All are welcome! Your nationality or immigration status do not affect your right to register here.
Everyone living in England has the right to free care from a GP.
Ask reception for an interpreter if you find it difficult to communicate in English.
Our receptionists won’t ask you about your immigration status.
If you are worried about giving us your address, please let us know. Your information is safe with us.
If you wish to register, please speak to a member of staff who can help and support you with the process of registration.
Armed Forces Veteran Friendly Practice
We are an Armed Forces veteran friendly accredited GP practice.
This means that, as part of the health commitments of the Armed Forces Covenant, we have a dedicated clinician who has a specialist knowledge of military related health conditions and veteran specific health services. This is important in helping ex-forces to get the best care and treatment.
If you are ex-forces, please let your GP know to help ensure you are getting the best possible care.
It is important to register with a GP, rather than wait until you need treatment. Visit the NHS website at www.nhs.uk to find details of GP practices in your local area.
If you’ve recently left the forces, it is important to give your GP the paperwork that your military medical centre gave you, including any medical records. This will help to make sure your military health record transfers to your NHS health record. This will also give your GP information on your health and ensure that any ongoing care and treatment is continued.
Regardless of when you left the military, tell your GP that you’ve served in the UK Armed Forces. This will help your GP to better understand any military related health conditions that you may have and ensure that you are referred, where appropriate, to dedicated services for veterans.
This includes the specialist mental and physical health services, Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service and the Veterans Trauma Network.
When using these services, you will be able to speak to people who:
understand the Armed Forces and military life
are either from the Armed Forces community or highly experienced in working with serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families
will work with you to make sure you get the right type of specialist care, support, and treatment
work closely with a range of organisations and charities, including military charities, to support your wider health and wellbeing needs.
With your agreement, it can sometimes be helpful for your doctor to refer you to Armed Forces charities, such as SSAFA, the Royal British Legion, Combat Stress or Help for Heroes. They can often offer significant help and support, even if they do not all deliver healthcare.
You may be worried about sharing information about your time in the Armed Forces. Please note that the NHS is bound by a confidentiality code of practice to ensure GPs, nurses and other people working within the NHS deliver a confidential service bound by law.
