Appointments

From 2nd February 2026 we will have a new way of working at the Birchwood and Sollershott Surgery with a new appointment system.

For further information please see our Frequently Asked Questions.

Urgent appointments

To request an urgent appointment for today or tomorrow (Monday to Friday)

When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.

We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.

Read more about managing your health online.

Routine appointments

To request a routine appointment in the next 7 days

When you get in touch, we’ll ask what you need help with.

We will use the information you give us to choose the most suitable doctor, nurse or health professional to help you.

Read more about managing your health online.

Your appointment

All requests are triaged by a senior clinician, and you may receive one of the following outcomes:

  • An appointment with an appropriate clinician in a clinically appropriate timeframe at either site
  • An appointment with an appropriate clinician in a clinically appropriate timeframe in Extended Access
  • Self-care advice
  • Referral to the local pharmacy where many conditions can be treated
  • Advice on self-referral
  • A referral to secondary care
  • Advice to attend an urgent treatment centre or A+E
  • Advice to contact NHS 111

Important information

All patients requesting an appointment will be required to complete an eConsult in the same way whether you submit an eConsult via the website, call the practice or walk in.

The only exception to this is if you are requesting an appointment for a baby under 6 months. Please call the practice and a member of staff will assist you.

When submitting an eConsult for a health problem, please ensure you select the most appropriate symptom or condition from the outset. The follow-up questions are specific to each issue. Submitting an inappropriate questionnaire can waste your time with irrelevant questions and may affect our clinicians’ ability to safely triage your request.

In some situations, to maintain safety, you may be asked to resubmit your request using the correct questionnaire, please include as much information as possible.

Please cancel your appointment by:

If you have a long-term condition that requires an annual review, you will receive an invite to book an appointment based on the month of your birth. Should you feel that you need the review before it is offered to you, please submit an eConsult.

If you are offered an appointment, the location could be at either our Birchwood site or Sollershott site. It may not always be possible to offer you an appointment at the site of your choosing due to the limited clinical space available.

Our health professionals team for the North Herts Extended Access Service consists of GP’s, Practice Nurses and Healthcare Assistants.

If you would like to make an appointment in the Extended Access Service, please call us and we will arrange this appointment for you.

Appointments are available through our Extended Access Service between the following times:

  • 6.30pm and 8pm on weekdays,
  • 9am and 5pm on Saturdays

If you need medical help now, use NHS 111 online or call 111.

NHS 111 online is for people aged 5 and over. Call 111 if you need help for a child under 5.

Call 999 in a medical or mental health emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

Walk-in Centres

NHS walk-in centres provide treatment for minor injuries and illnesses seven days a week. You do not need an appointment and will be seen by an experienced NHS nurse.

Adult Urgent Treatment Centre, Lister Hospital 

Luton NHS Walk-in Centre, 14-16 Chapel Street, Luton, Bedfordshire, LU1 2SE – Tel: 01582 556400

Urgent Care Centre – New QEII Hospital, Howlands, Welwyn Garden City, Herts, AL7 4HQ – Tel: 01438 314333

Please tell us:

  • If there’s a specific doctor, nurse or other health professional you would prefer to respond.
  • If you would prefer to consult with the doctor or nurse by phone, face-to-face, by video call or by text or email.
  • If you need an interpreter.
  • If you have any other access or communication needs.

Whilst we encourage our patients to come to the surgery, where we have the proper equipment and facilities available, we do appreciate this is not always possible. If you do need a home visit, you can help us by calling reception before 11am.

Home visits are for patients who are housebound or are too ill to visit the practice. Your GP may call you first and only visit you at home if they think your medical condition requires this. They may also decide how urgently a visit is needed. Please bear this in mind and be prepared to provide suitable details to the call handler.

You can also be visited at home by a community nurse if you are referred by your GP. You should also be visited at home by a health visitor if you have recently had a baby or if you are newly registered with a GP and have a child under five years

 

Date published: 21st September, 2023
Date last updated: 2nd February, 2026