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Your doctor

General Practitioners (GPs) are the doctors who look after your health from when you are born all the way through for the rest of your life.

Introduction

Your doctor is the first person to contact for NHS health services. They can send you to other services if you need them.

You might hear this service called a GP, family doctor, primary care, or GP surgery.

Most people in Somerset are registered with a GP practice. This is where you get your main health care.

If you do not have a doctor, you need to register.

You can find a GP near you by entering your postcode. When you find one, check their website to see how to register. Some let you register online. Others ask you to visit. You can read more on the NHS website about how to Register with a GP Surgery.

When to see a doctor

You may need to see a doctor for:

  • Illness, infections or viruses
  • Injuries, aches or sore joints
  • Feeling sad or worried
  • Contraception, pregnancy or sexual health
  • Immunisations
  • Help to stay healthy, like diet or stopping smoking

If you are not sure what is wrong, call NHS 111. They will tell you if you need to see a doctor.

If your doctor cannot help, they will send you to hospital for tests or treatment.

Go straight to hospital only if it is an emergency or someone’s life is at risk. You should also go if you have had an accident and think you have broken a bone or need stitches urgently.

Visiting the doctor

If you have never been to a doctor, here are some tips:

  • Write down any questions you have
  • Make a list of your medicines (including ones from the pharmacy)
  • Write down your symptoms, when they started and what makes them better or worse
  • Ask someone you trust to come with you

You can find more on the NHS website or watch the video below:

If you have a learning disability or autism, this guide may help you visit the doctor.

Information you can understand and use

The Accessible Information Standard is a law that makes sure people with a disability or sensory loss get information they can understand. This includes letters, emails, and phone calls.

Your GP must:

  • Ask if you have communication needs
  • Record those needs
  • Share them with staff
  • Make sure you get information in the right format

This could mean large print, easy read, Braille, or having an interpreter.

Tell your GP if you need information in a certain way. This helps them give you the right support every time you visit. You may find it helpful to create a Health Passport to share this.

People who work in a GP practice

A GP practice is more than just doctors. It’s a team of health professionals and support staff who work together to care for you. Each person has a different role. Knowing who does what can help you get the right help quickly.

  • GP partners – Own the practice and treat all ages, some may have a specialised interest
  • Salaried GPs – Work for a set number of hours
  • Locum GPs – Work in different practices when needed
  • Practice nurses – Help with long-term conditions, checks and immunisations
  • Health care assistants – Help with tests and checks
  • Practice manager – Runs the practice
  • Admin team – Receptionists and other staff who keep things running

Some practices also have extra roles

  • GP registrars – Doctors training to be GPs
  • Nurse practitioners – Do extra training and can treat more problems, including prescribing medicine
  • Paramedics – See patients who need urgent care
  • Clinical pharmacists – Manage repeat prescriptions, and changes to prescriptions after leaving hospital
  • Physiotherapists – Help with joint and muscle problems
  • Mental health support workers – Support people with mental health needs

Getting extra help

Your GP surgery keeps different registers. These help staff understand your needs and give you the right support. You can ask to be added to a register if it applies to you.

Carers register
If you look after someone, tell your GP. Being on the carers register means you can get extra help, like:

  • Health checks for carers
  • Advice and support
  • Flu vaccinations

Learning disability register
If you have a learning disability, ask to join this register. It can give you:

How GP practices work

There are over 60 GP practices in Somerset. Some are small, run by one GP. Others are bigger and work together.

GPs get a set amount of money each year for each patient. It doesn’t matter how complicated the patient’s needs are or how much attention they need. 

You usually register with a GP near where you live. You can choose one outside your area, but they do not have to visit you at home.

GP practices work in groups called Primary Care Networks (PCNs). There are 12 PCNs in Somerset:

Last updated: November 24, 2025

Next review due: May 24, 2026

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