![](/assets/images/card1.png)
Making a GP appointment over the phone, in person and online
Appointments can be made by phoning the surgery and speaking to the receptionist or going to the health centre in person. Many surgeries use practice...
Surgeries may work slightly differently and offer different kinds of appointments, including some or all of the ones below.
Urgent appointments
Some practices (surgeries or health centres) keep a number of slots for patients who need to be seen urgently (urgent appointments). There is usually less choice of doctor and patients may have to see whoever is free.
Advance appointments
It’s important to book an advance appointment if someone needs to review a repeat prescription for medication they take regularly, whether that’s for an illness or contraception. Sarah now makes sure she books an appointment for repeat prescriptions straight after a consultation because she once ran out of the contraceptive pill. Aphra had to make an emergency appointment when she ran out of antidepressants and Siobhan – who knew she’d need a repeat prescription for antidepressants – intended to book an appointment before she went on holiday. Most practices allow patients to book an appointment from a few days to several weeks in advance.
Appointments can be made by phoning the surgery and speaking to the receptionist or going to the health centre in person. Many surgeries use practice...
There's no set time within which patients should be given an appointment to see the GP. Whether someone phones in or books an appointment in...