GP

If you have an illness that won’t go away and isn’t life threatening, contact your GP surgery first to make an appointment.

Your local GP surgery provides a range of services, including general medical advice and treatment, prescriptions, referral to a specialist or hospital (where appropriate), and injections and tests (such as immunisations, blood tests or cervical smears).

Remember to tell your doctor if you have taken or are taking any self-care treatment.

Evening and Saturday GP appointments


Local residents can now access evening and weekend appointments with a GP, nurse or healthcare assistant. The new, improved service will see GP practices working together to offer patients appointments at more convenient times when they call their local practice. 

Depending on where you live, appointments are available from 6:30pm – 8:00pm, Monday to Friday and from 9:00am – 5:00pm on Saturday.

To make an appointment, you can call your own GP practice during normal business hours and ask for an evening or Saturday appointment.

GP Services FAQ

You do not need proof of ID to register with a GP, but it might help if you have one or more of the following:

  • passport
  • birth certificate
  • HC2 certificate
  • rough sleepers’ identity badge
  • hostel or accommodation registration or mail forwarding letter

If you’re homeless, you can give a temporary address, such as a friend’s address, a day centre or the GP surgery address.

Sometimes, you may not be able to register with a GP surgery, for example, if:

  • You live outside the area that the surgery covers
  • The surgery is not accepting new patients
  • You will need to register with another GP surgery in your area instead.

GP Online Services

Most GP practices across mid and south Essex now offer a range of online services to patients, including booking GP appointments, ordering repeat prescriptions and accessing information in your personal GP record. These services are part of moves towards a more convenient and open general practice.

Find out more about the NHS App

Find local information on what is available to support your health and wellbeing

Primary Care Networks are groups of GP practices working closely together with other healthcare staff and organisations to provide more joined up care to local communities. Use this tool to find your local PCN and connect with tools, tips and resources to support your health and wellbeing.

Find my Primary Care Network