A public consultation looking at how to give patients a greater choice over which GP practice they can register was originally launched by health secretary Andy Burnham. The consultation seeks views on the various options for enabling patients to register with the GP practice that best meets their needs, whether that is a practice near their work, near their child’s school or simply a different practice near their home that offers more services or longer opening hours. It also sets out the potential implications for their care when patients opt to register a long way from where they live.

 The incoming Coalition administration has decided to continue and extend the consultation. It is looking for responses from a wide range of stakeholders, including GPs, PCTs and patients, and will run until 2nd July 2010.

If you wish to participate in the consultation, go to

www.gpchoice.dh.gov.uk

There are potentially very significant implications for the future shape of General Practice in England, so we urge all members of the public to engage in this consultation.