Quick answer
To find a good GP in the UK: (1) look up nearby surgeries on the NHS website by postcode, (2) check each surgery's current CQC rating — Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate — on the official CQC register, (3) read recent patient feedback, and (4) register with the practice you choose (registration is free and you don't need proof of address or immigration status). There are 9,380 CQC-registered GP / doctor providers in England as of 2026-06-12.
Step 1 — find surgeries near you
Every GP surgery in England must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and adult social care. Start by searching the NHS website by your postcode to list the practices whose catchment area covers your address — you can usually only register with a surgery near where you live.
GeraClinic's UK care-provider directory lets you see how many CQC-registered GP providers operate in each local authority, alongside dentists, clinics and care homes, so you can gauge how much choice you have locally.
Step 2 — check the CQC rating
The CQC inspects practices and publishes a rating: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement or Inadequate. This is a category, not a star score. A "Good" or "Outstanding" rating is a strong signal, but read the full inspection report — a practice can be rated "Requires improvement" on one area (for example, leadership) while still being safe and effective clinically.
Look up any surgery by name on the official CQC website (www.cqc.org.uk) for its most recent rating and report. Some newly registered practices have not yet been inspected and carry no rating yet — that is normal and not a warning sign on its own.
Step 3 — compare what matters to you
Beyond the rating, compare practical factors: appointment availability and how you book (phone, online, app), whether they offer online or telephone consultations, opening hours, repeat-prescription handling, and named-GP continuity if you have a long-term condition.
Patient reviews on the NHS website and Google give a feel for day-to-day experience, but weight the CQC report more heavily — it is an independent, structured assessment rather than a self-selected sample of reviews.
Step 4 — register (it is free)
Registering with an NHS GP is free. You do not legally need proof of address, ID or immigration status to register, though a surgery may ask for them. You can register online with most practices or by filling in a GMS1 form. You can switch surgeries at any time without giving a reason — just register with the new practice and they will request your records.
How to find a good GP — FAQs
- How many GPs are there in England?
- There are 9,380 CQC-registered GP / doctor providers in England as of 2026-06-12, counted from the real Care Quality Commission register. This counts GP surgeries and doctor practices; a provider registered for more than one service type is counted under each.
- Do I need proof of address to register with a GP?
- No. You do not legally need proof of address, photo ID or immigration status to register with an NHS GP in England, although a practice may ask for them. If you are refused registration, you can ask the practice for the reason in writing.
- What does a "Good" CQC rating mean for a GP surgery?
- A "Good" CQC rating means the surgery is performing well and meeting expectations across the areas the CQC inspects (safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led). It is a category, not a 0–5 number. "Outstanding" is the highest rating; "Requires improvement" and "Inadequate" indicate concerns. Always read the full inspection report alongside the headline rating.
- Can I change my GP surgery?
- Yes. You can switch GP surgery at any time without giving a reason. Register with the new practice (online or with a GMS1 form) and they will request your medical records from your old surgery. There is no charge.
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Related
Methodology
Any provider count on this page is an exact figure from the real Care Quality Commission register (as of 2026-06-12); the rest of the page is process guidance. CQC ratings are categorical (Outstanding / Good / Requires improvement / Inadequate), never a 0–5 number — this page shows no numeric rating average. This is general information, not medical or legal advice; always check a specific provider on the official CQC website.
Source: Care Quality Commission www.cqc.org.uk. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Provider records are sourced from the Care Quality Commission at www.cqc.org.uk. Details reflect the most recent CQC record and may have changed since publication. GeraClinic is not affiliated with the CQC.