Information on the GP Register
On 31 March 2006, the GMC introduced a register of doctors who are eligible to work in general practice in the health service in the UK. From 1 April 2006, all doctors working in general practice in the health service in the UK, other than doctors in training such as GP Registrars, are required to be on the GP Register.
The information in this guidance was updated in November 2007. If we make any changes you will always find the details here on the GMC website: we keep the site under regular review. Please be aware these and other notes on the GMC website are for guidance only. They do not carry legal force.
Contents
Accessing the GP Register
The GP Register is a register of general practitioners eligible to work in the UK health service. It can be accessed via the List of Registered Medical Practitioners.
Background
On 31 March 2006, the GMC introduced a register of doctors who are eligible to work in general practice in the health service in the UK. All doctors working in general practice in the health service in the UK, other than doctors in training such as GP registrars, are now required to be on the GP Register. This requirement extends to locums.
Entry in the GP Register has replaced the T(GP) indicator.
The GP Register was introduced alongside the changes to the system for postgraduate medical education and training under The General and Specialist Medical Practice (Education, Training and Qualifications) Order 2003. Other changes included the establishment of the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB), which formally assumed its functions on 30 September 2005.
Primary care organisations and performers lists
Primary care organisations (PCO means a primary care trust in England, Health and Social Services Boards in Northern Ireland, a local health board in Wales, and primary care divisions within area health boards in Scotland) are responsible for maintaining primary medical performers lists.
GP registration (ie being included on the GP Register) is one requirement for entry to a medical performers list for GPs, although this does not apply to doctors in training, such as GP Registrars. When a doctor applies to join a performers list, the PCO should contact the GMC to check whether that doctor is on the GP Register, and make other pre-employment checks.
The criteria for entry to a medical performers list are set out in Department of Health guidance.
See our guidance 'Employing a doctor' for further information.
PCOs undertake a series of checks, in addition to registration checks, before admitting a doctor to their performers lists. See the NHS Employers' guidance - 'Safer recruitment – a guide for NHS employers'.
Creating the GP Register
We worked closely with PCOs to ensure that the names of eligible doctors were carried forward to the GP Register by drawing data from medical performers lists. We also invited direct applications from GPs not currently on performers lists.
If you have been entered on the GP Register you will have received a letter of notification from us. You can also access your entry in our List of Registered Medical Practitioners.
If you believed you had been entered on the GP Register, but have not received a letter of notification from us and / or the position is not clear from your entry in our List of Registered Medical Practitioners, please contact us urgently by emailing gpregister@gmc-uk.org or by calling 0161 923 6602 (+44 161 923 6602 from outside the UK).
Applying for inclusion on the GP Register after 1 April 2006
If you are not yet on the GP Register but wish to be, and meet the prescribed criteria for entry, you will need to apply directly to the GMC.
Please read the Frequently asked questions and factsheet for applications (
pdf) then contact the GMC if you need further information by emailing gpregister@gmc-uk.orgor calling 0161 923 6602 (+44 161 923 6602 from outside the UK). You can apply for inclusion in the GP Register by completing an Application Form( pdf).
If you have been awarded a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in General Practice by PMETB, PMETB will inform the GMC automatically and you will be entered on the GP Register within five working days of the GMC receiving notification.
If you are a GP Registrar
If you are a GP Registrar, you need to be included in a medical performers list if you wish to work in the UK health service. However, you do not need to be on the GP Register to complete your training. You will be eligible for inclusion on the GP Register when you have completed your training and hold a CCT, or are awarded a certificate of equivalence, from PMETB.
Further information
See our Frequently asked questions or email gpregister@gmc-uk.org
