How to change or cancel an NHS hospital appointment
Please do not ring your GP
They cannot change or cancel things for you. You need to do it. To change or cancel an NHS hospital appointment, there are several options:
Use the NHS App
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Log in to the NHS App and go to “Your health”
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Select “Upcoming and past appointments” and then “Hospital and specialist appointments”
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Choose the appointment you want to change or cancel
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Select “Ask to reschedule appointment” or “Ask to cancel appointment” and follow the prompts.
If you prefer to speak to a human (!) ..
Phone Call 1
- Ring the secretary of the hospital consultant you have been referred to; or, if this is not obvious (or answerphine on!) ring the department (group of similar doctors) they work in
- You will be able to find their number by either a. ringing the hospital’s switchboard (ask for their direct line number in case you have to ring again); or b. looking the consultant (or department) up on the hospital’s website. These are or varying quality and not always up to date.
Phone Call 2
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Call the hospital’s outpatient department or appointment centre (often called e-booking or e-referral) directly
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For example:
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East Kent Hospitals: 03456 088 888 for e-booking appointments (e.g. first appointment)
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East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust: 01438 284444 for outpatient appointments (e.g. follow-up appointment).
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Back to cyber (!) ..
Online Forms
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Some hospitals offer online forms to change or cancel appointments
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Fill out the form with your details, appointment information, and reason for change or cancellation.
Other Options
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Some hospitals offer a Patient Hub for digital appointment management
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You can also reply to text message reminders to accept, cancel, or request a rebook.
Appointment Letters
Remember to check your appointment letter for specific contact details and instructions. This may include the name of the consultant you have been referred to, and/or the department (group of similar doctors) they work in.
