Booking an Appointment

How does the Appointments System Work?

We operate a triage model for all of our appointments. This is to ensure that the most appropriate appointment and clinician is offered to you. This allows the maximum benefit to you, with potentially less need to reattend for further appointments and ensures that we use our limited capacity to its best. In order for us to make the correct triage decisions you may be asked some questions or details about your problem or be directed to completing a form via an online system.

If your problem is urgent you can be seen on the same day. We also have a telephone appointments system where you can discuss your problem with a doctor on the phone, rather than coming to the surgery in person.

Please note that we have very few appointments that can be booked for the same day and these are reserved for urgent cases

On your first phone call, you will be offered the following options:

  • An appointment with your own doctor or another doctor.
  • The opportunity to speak to your doctor or another doctor on the phone.
  • An appointment with a triage nurse, if it is a problem a nurse can deal with
  • An appointment at one of our clinics, if that’s appropriate.

If you want to cancel an appointment, please let as know as soon as possible so we can offer the appointment to another patient.


On the day Appointments

To book on the day appointments, call us at 08:15 that day and please don’t be put off if you are in a queue as there are multiple people answering calls especially at busy periods so the queue should reduce quite quickly.


How to book an Appointment

Booking Online

This is for doctors appointments only, you can cancel or check an appointment using our secure on line booking system, If you are already registered for online services.

If you would like to register then please attend reception to register.

Call the Practice

Our highly skilled team will help you make an appointment with any of our doctors or nurses.

Please click on your surgery below to find the contact number:

Visit the Practice

Appointments are available every morning which are bookable over the telephone and by visiting the surgery.

​Visit the practice and our team will help you make an appointment.


​Making the Most of your Appointment

Before your appointment:

  • Write down your two or three most important questions.
  • Write down details of your symptoms, including when they started and what makes them better or worse.
  • Ask a friend or family member to come with you, if you like. Especially if they help care for you.

During your appointment:

  • Don’t be afraid to ask if you don’t understand. For example ‘Can you say that again? I still don’t understand.’?
  • If you don’t understand any words, ask for them to be written down and explained.
  • Write things down, or ask a family member or friend to take notes.

Improved Access – HUB Appointments

Patients who are registered with one of the 21 surgeries within West Norfolk are able to access an improved access appointment at either the Kings Lynn, or the Swaffham hub.

Who can access the service?

Patients who are unable to access appointments during normal surgery hours or when surgery appointments are fully booked.

Patients who cannot be seen:

  • Babies under 12 weeks old
  • Pregnancy-related problems
  • Chronic disease or long-term condition management that requires continuity of care
  • Severe mental health problem
  • Patients identified with a potentially life-threatening medical condition which requires referral to urgent or emergency care settings
  • Walk-in patients

What appointments are available?

Kings Lynn – Evening appointments are available from 18.30 – 20:00 and Saturday appointment from 08:00 – 13:00

Swaffham – Saturday appointments are available from 08:00 – 13:00

Where do I need to go?

Duty surgeries are now offering improved access appointments on a rotation basis, our receptionist will advise which practice to attend for the time of your appointment.

The participating practices are:
• Campingland Surgery, Beech Close, Swaffham, PE37 RD
• Great Massingham Surgery, Station Road, Great Massingham, PE32 2JQ
• IC24 – GP Out of Hours, QEH, Gayton Road, Kings Lynn, PE30 4ET
• Litcham Health Centre, Manor Drove, Kings Lynn, PE32 2NW
• Southgates Medical Centre, 4 Goodwins Road, Kings Lynn, PE30 5QX
• St James Medical Practice, County Court Road, King’s Lynn, PE30 5SY
• St John’s Surgery, Main Road, Terrington St John, Wisbech, PE14 7RR
• Vida Healthcare, Gayton Road, Kings Lynn, PE30 4DY

What conditions can be treated?

The hubs are designed to treat patients with acute minor ailments who require a face-to-face clinical assessment in order to be treated appropriately.

Appointments are available with a GP, Nurse or HCA.

Choosing Appropriate Care – Made Simple

Before coming to the surgery consider the most appropriate option for your ailment. See below for some examples of some conditions, and the most appropriate place where they can be treated.

A&E Department or 999Choking, chest pain, loss of consciousness, severe bleeding, or other serious injury.
Urgent Care CentreSprains, broken bones, cuts, minor burns, insect and animal bites.
GP, NHS 111, Dental ServicesVomiting, ear pain, painful cough, toothache, prescription request.
PharmacistsDiarrhoea, runny nose, upset stomach, headache, cough, cold, out of medication.
Self CareHangover, grazed knee, sore throat, cough; click here for more advice.

For more information, guidance and advice, you can download the “Choose Well” App where you can find out more on these choices of care and your nearest service provider.


The NHS App

Get the NHS App today!