How to use GP online services

GP online services mean that you can contact your surgery without having to travel, and without having to wait for their busy staff to answer the phone. This service is available to everyone registered to a particular GP practice, and it’s free.

Five ways to get a GP appointment today

To use online services you need access to a mobile phone, a computer, a tablet or iPad.

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How to get started with GP online services

Speak to one of the staff at your GP’s reception desk and explain that you would like to sign up for their online services. You’ll be asked to fill in a form, and to provide photo ID, and proof of your address (a gas, electricity or water bill for instance).

Once all the paperwork has been done, the practice will send you a letter with your username and password. The letter should also include a link to the online site where you can log in using your computer or mobile phone. If you have any trouble logging in, and don’t use mobile phones or computers often, ask a more experienced friend or relative to help you.

Once you have logged in to your GP surgery’s online services, spend some time just familiarising yourself with the different services available. For instance, online facilities often include:

• Online appointment booking – you should be able to see the dates and times of appointments that are available to you, and which doctor or nurse the appointment is with. You can choose the one most suitable for you, and book it online. You can also cancel appointments online, and re-book them for another date and time.
• You can order repeat prescriptions online, and check when you last ordered each prescription.
• You can look at part of your medical record, which includes the medication you are taking.
• You can choose to share your medical record with a doctor or other health professional, or a relative. They will probably only have access to this for a limited time.

There are different online systems, and your GPs practice will have chosen the one they feel most useful.

If you are struggling with your GP’s online services, and don’t have someone to help you, it may be worth a trip to your GPs surgery to have the process explained clearly.

When you call to make an appointment, explain why you need it, so that you can spend time with the right person for this job.

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