GP surgeries can offer appointments with a range of health professionals including a GP, nurse, clinical pharmacist or physiotherapist, depending on your situation.
Appointments may be face to face, over the phone or online.
How to book, change or cancel an appointment
If you think you need an appointment at your GP surgery, you can contact them:
- using a form on your GP surgery's website (many surgeries also have a form you can access if you log into your account on the NHS website or NHS App)
- by phone
- in person, by going into the surgery and talking to the receptionist
Before booking an appointment, your GP surgery may ask what you need help with.
This will help them decide how soon you need to be seen and help them choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.
Call your GP surgery if you need an urgent appointment. If your GP surgery is closed, a recorded message will tell you who to contact.
Booking appointments online
You may also be able to book an appointment online, although your GP surgery may only make some of their appointments available online.
If you want to book an appointment online, you can log into your account on the NHS website or NHS App. You can create an account if you do not already have one.
You may also be able to book GP appointments online using other apps and online services your GP surgery uses. Check with your surgery to find out which services you can use.
Evening and Saturday appointments
You can see a healthcare professional on:
- weekday evenings between 6.30pm and 8pm
- Saturdays between 9am and 5pm
Call your GP surgery or use their online services to book evening and Saturday appointments. You may be able to get an appointment on the same day.
You may be offered an appointment at:
- your GP surgery
- another local GP surgery
- another local NHS service
If you're not registered with a GP surgery
You can call any GP surgery to get emergency treatment for up to 14 days if you're not registered with a GP surgery or are away from home.
If your treatment will last longer than 14 days, you'll have to register as a temporary or permanent resident.
Read more about how to register with a GP surgery.
If you're struggling to make an appointment
If you're struggling to make an appointment, contact your GP surgery directly. Details of the complaints process and surgery management team will usually be on the surgery website.
If you're not comfortable raising a complaint directly or do not feel you've had a satisfactory response, you can complain to the NHS.
Other services
Before you make an appointment with your GP surgery, think about what other services might be able to help.
- Go to a pharmacy for advice and treatment for common illnesses, aches and pains that do not need a prescription. Read about how your pharmacy can help
- Call NHS 111 if you have an urgent medical problem, but you're not sure what to do.
- Visit 111 online for urgent medical advice for people aged 5 and over only.
- Visit a sexual health clinic for testing for sexually transmitted infections and contraception advice.
You do not have to make an appointment or register for these services.