Private GP Open Evenings, Weekends, and Bank Holidays in London
It is Saturday afternoon and your child has an ear infection. Your prescription has run out and you did not realise until Friday evening. You have a flight on Monday morning and need a fitness-to-fly certificate. You have found a lump and the anxiety of waiting until Monday is unbearable.
These situations happen constantly — and the NHS is largely closed. Most GP practices operate Monday to Friday, 8am to 6.30pm. Out-of-hours NHS services are limited to NHS 111 (long waits, limited scope) and urgent care centres (designed for emergencies, not routine GP needs).
The Online GP by The Wellness offers consultations 7 days a week. Phone appointments from £49 during extended hours. In-person clinic appointments at our Marylebone clinic on weekdays, with weekend availability on request. Same-day booking for urgent needs.
Need a doctor now? WhatsApp us — we respond quickly, even outside standard hours. Or email team@thewellnesslondon.com.
When You Need a Doctor Outside 9-5
Evenings
Most working professionals cannot take time off during the day for a GP appointment. Video consultations during evening hours solve this completely. From your sofa, your office, or wherever you are, you can see a GMC-registered doctor, discuss your concern, receive a diagnosis, and get a prescription sent to your pharmacy — all without disrupting your working day.
Evening appointments are popular for medication reviews and repeat prescriptions, discussing non-urgent symptoms you have been putting off, mental health consultations (many patients prefer to talk in the evening when they are not rushed), medical letter requests, follow-up from previous appointments, and results consultations for blood tests.
Weekends
Saturday and Sunday are when many healthcare needs become urgent — precisely when most GP surgeries are closed. Common weekend scenarios include children's acute illnesses (fevers, ear infections, rashes, vomiting), sports injuries (sprains, suspected fractures requiring assessment), infections that have worsened over the week (UTIs, chest infections, skin infections), prescription needs that cannot wait until Monday, pre-travel health (last-minute vaccinations, fitness-to-fly certificates for Monday flights), and skin concerns causing anxiety (suspicious moles, new rashes).
Our video consultations are available at weekends, and in-person clinic appointments can be arranged on request for conditions that require physical examination.
Bank Holidays
Bank holidays create extended gaps in healthcare access — sometimes three or four consecutive days without routine GP services. Christmas, Easter, and August bank holidays regularly coincide with increased healthcare needs (winter infections at Christmas, travel health before summer holidays). We offer video consultations on bank holidays and can arrange in-person appointments where needed.
Do not wait until Monday. WhatsApp us to book an out-of-hours consultation.
What We Can Do Outside Standard Hours
Our out-of-hours consultations provide the same standard of care as daytime appointments. This includes clinical assessment and diagnosis, prescriptions (sent electronically to your chosen pharmacy, including late-opening and 24-hour pharmacies), referral letters (including urgent referrals that cannot wait), medical certificates and letters, blood test arrangements for the next working day, ongoing management of chronic conditions, and mental health support.
What Requires A&E Instead
A private GP — whether in-person or by video — is not a replacement for emergency care. Always call 999 or go directly to A&E for chest pain or suspected heart attack, sudden severe headache or suspected stroke (use the FAST test: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call 999), difficulty breathing, heavy uncontrolled bleeding, loss of consciousness, severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), suspected meningitis (non-blanching rash, neck stiffness, light sensitivity, high fever), and serious injuries (suspected fractures with deformity, head injuries with confusion).
If you are unsure whether your situation requires A&E or a GP, WhatsApp us and we can advise. If in any doubt, always err on the side of calling 999.
Same-Day Prescriptions at Evenings and Weekends
One of the most common out-of-hours needs is prescriptions. Whether your regular medication has run out, you need antibiotics for an infection that is worsening, or you need emergency contraception, our doctors can issue e-prescriptions that you can collect the same day.
Several pharmacies across London are open late or 24 hours. Boots in Piccadilly Circus and Zafash Pharmacy on Old Brompton Road are among the 24-hour options. We can send your prescription directly to whichever pharmacy is most convenient for you.
For International Visitors
If you are visiting London and become unwell outside standard hours, navigating the NHS can be confusing and time-consuming. A&E involves long waits for non-emergency conditions, and registering with an NHS GP as a visitor is not straightforward.
A private GP consultation is the fastest route to medical care for visitors. No registration required, no NHS number needed, and consultations available in Arabic, Spanish, French, Dutch, and English. We also coordinate with travel insurance providers and provide documentation in formats suitable for international insurers.
📧 Email team@thewellnesslondon.com
📞 Call 020 3951 3429
📍 10 Portman Square, Marylebone, London W1H 6AZ
This article was written by the medical team at The Online GP by The Wellness. Last updated: February 2026. Out-of-hours availability is subject to doctor schedules. WhatsApp or call us to check current availability. For medical emergencies, always call 999.
