Whether you register with the NHS or go private, choosing a general practitioner (GP) will be one of the most important health care decisions you will make. In the public and private sectors, GPs act as gatekeepers. They are not only your first port of call for all primary health care matters, but also hold the key to secondary health care services. The majority of specialists will require a referral from your GP before they will treat you.
In the UK, doctors are responsible for their patient's care 24 hours a day. NHS doctors will, at their discretion, make free house calls outside normal office hours and to see patients who are bedridden. Private GPs are also obligated to provide 24-hour coverage. When you call your GP outside normal office hours, you may not be visited by the doctor you normally see, but another doctor from the same practice or an independent medical service providing 'after hours' coverage for the practice.
Upon qualifying, all doctors must register with the General Medical Council. However, GPs working within the NHS also are required to complete three years of post-graduate training (2 in a hospital setting and 1 in general practice with an experienced GP) before being allowed to work as a NHS practitioner. Most GPs also will take the entrance exam for membership to the Royal College of General Practitioners, which will allow them to list 'MRCGP' as a qualification.
To ensure a medical practitioner has been trained to provide the treatment you require, confirm that he or she is registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). You can check the registration status of a doctor by contacting the GMC directly (tel: 020 7915 3630 or fax: 020 7915 3532). You'll soon be able to search the GMC register on-line at www.gmc-uk.org.
In the UK, doctors are responsible for their patient's care 24 hours a day.
