How to Cancel or Change Your Appointment

If you need to cancel or rearrange your appointment, you can do so in one of the following ways:

• Complete our online admin request form – click here 

• Call our cancellation line and leave a voicemail: 01462 654040

Please give us at least 24 hours’ notice so we can offer the appointment to another patient.

If your appointment is within the next hour, please contact the reception team directly by phone.

Important:
Missed appointments without notice may result in a formal warning letter. Repeated missed appointments could lead to removal from our patient list.

Many minor illnesses do not require a GP appointment or prescription. Your local pharmacist can advise on a wide range of common issues, including:

• Back pain
• Colds, Cold Sores, Coughs, Chickenpox
• Conjunctivitis (Allergic or Infective)
• Constipation, Diarrhoea
• Earache, Earwax
• Hay fever, Headache, Head Lice
• Indigestion, Insect stings
• Mouth ulcers
• Nappy rash, Nosebleeds
• Sinusitis, Sore throat, Sprains and Strains
• Warts and Verrucas

Pharmacists are trained professionals who can provide expert guidance and recommend over-the-counter treatments – often without any need to see a GP.

NHS 111

For advice on colds, sore throats, coughs, and other common ailments, call NHS 111 or use the NHS 111 Symptom Checker online.
They can guide you on the most appropriate next steps.

🏥 Minor Injury Units Nearby

If you have a minor injury such as cuts, sprains, burns or minor fractures, you may be able to access help faster by visiting a Minor Injury Unit rather than waiting for a GP appointment.

Lister Hospital – Open 24 hours
Coreys Mill Lane, Stevenage, SG1 4AB
📞 Tel: 01438 314333

Queen Elizabeth II Hospital – Open 08:00–22:00
Howlands, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 4HQ
📞 Tel: 01438 314333

🌙 Extended Hours Appointments

We offer pre-bookable evening and weekend appointments for routine care. Please contact the reception team for available times.

Note: Extended hours clinics are by appointment only. There is no duty doctor and no emergency care available during these sessions.

🕐 Out-of-Hours Care

For urgent issues outside of normal practice hours, please contact the Out-of-Hours GP service via NHS 111 or call 01438 314333. This service operates 24/7 for emergencies only.

Talk to Reception

Our trained reception team are here to help. By sharing the reason for your appointment, they can direct you to the most appropriate clinician – such as a nurse, healthcare assistant, or pharmacist – saving valuable GP time for complex issues.

See the Right Person

Today’s NHS is a team effort. For example:

• Travel vaccinations → Travel clinic
• Cholesterol checks or blood pressure → Healthcare assistant
• Minor illness → Practice nurse or local pharmacist

Your GP is best reserved for ongoing or complex issues.

Prioritise & Be Specific

Let the GP know your main concern upfront so they can focus the consultation effectively. Start with a clear description of your symptoms (e.g. “I’ve had a cough and fever for three days”). You don’t need to diagnose yourself – just explain how you feel and what you're hoping for.

Follow-Up? Give a Quick Recap

If you’re coming back for a follow-up, start with a 10-second summary of why you came last time and what’s changed since. This helps the clinician pick up where you left off.

Thank you for working with us to ensure appointments are used appropriately. This allows us to offer timely care to everyone who needs it.

If you’re still unsure whether you need an appointment, please speak to our reception team or use NHS 111 online for advice.