You can get help from your GP surgery for free, but you'll usually need to make an appointment.
How to book, change or cancel an appointment
You should be able to book or change an appointment at your GP surgery:
- online, either through an app to book an appointment or using a form on your GP surgery's website to request help or advice – find out more about how to start using online services
- by phone
- in person, by going into the surgery and talking to the receptionist
If you've booked an appointment using an app, you can use the app to change or cancel your booking.
In some GP surgeries, you may also be able to have a consultation online or over the phone. Speak to your GP surgery for more information about online and phone consultations.
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, changing and cancelling appointments online
If you're registered with a GP surgery, you can use their online services to book, check or cancel appointments with a healthcare professional.
If you've already signed up to online services, log in to your usual service provider's app and book one of the available appointments, or use the online form on your GP surgery's website.
To change an appointment online, you'll need to cancel the appointment you already have and book a new one.
Read more about how to start using online services, if you're not signed up to them already.
Important
Your GP surgery may only make some of their appointments available to book online. Online appointments may become available at a certain time of day.
Speak to your GP surgery for more information.
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:
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 minor conditions 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.nhs.uk 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.