Book and manage your appointments

Overview

We aim to offer appointments based on clinical need so the appointment you get is with an appropriate clinician within an appropriate time frame.

You may be able to get the help you need from a Local Pharmacy, without needing to wait for an appointment at UHS. Check the information about Pharmacy First before contacting us to arrange an appointment.

Both routine and urgent appointment requests should be arranged via Anima. 

You can check your upcoming appointments via Anima and the NHS app. Via the NHS app you can also order repeat prescriptions, view test results and more.

View our opening times to check when we are open. If we are closed, you can always access help via out of hours services.

Anima

Anima helps us direct you to the most appropriate care for your medical needs. It also ensures we make use of our limited resources in the safest and most efficient way.

We are now arranging all appointments (and processing certain other medical and admin queries) via Anima for fully registered patients with an NHS number. If you are an international student you will receive your NHS number from NHS England and not from the University Health Service (UHS), so please do not contact UHS for this.

Once you submit a request we will contact you regarding next steps. These may include arranging an appointment, medical advice, self-care information, signposting to other services and more.

Watch How to submit a medical request and more on our Instagram.

All patients who are able to arrange appointments via Anima should do so. If this is not possible then you can phone us on +44 114 222 2100. The team may be able to submit an Anima request on your behalf, but it is quicker and more informative if you submit the request yourself.

What to expect

Face-to-face appointments

Plan your journey to arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time so you can check in. 

If you arrive late it is unlikely that you will be seen. 

If you have respiratory symptoms (eg coughing, sneezing), please wear a face covering.

Our physical accessibility web page has information about the arrangements that are in place to support you when attending UHS.

Telephone / video appointments

You will be contacted as close to your appointment time as possible, so be ready to answer. 

Allow some time before and after your appointment time as we are not always able to contact you at the precise time of your appointment. You may need to rebook if we cannot get hold of you.

Cancellations

To cancel your appointment, do one of the following:

• text CANCEL to +44 7903 593 719. Don't put anything else in your message, otherwise your appointment won't be cancelled
• click the cancellation link texted in your appointment reminder
• cancel via your Anima portal
• call us on +44 114 222 2100

Pharmacy First

Most local pharmacies can now offer advice about a range of common conditions and medications. 

Conditions they can treat and prescribe medication for include:

• earache (aged 1 to 17 years)
• impetigo (aged 1 year and over)
• infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)
• shingles (aged 18 years and over)
• sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)
• sore throat (aged 5 years and over)
• urinary tract infections or UTIs (women aged 16 to 64 years)

Some can also help with emergency contraception, blood pressure checks and more.

You can go directly to local pharmacies without a referral. Use the Find a pharmacy tool to check where your nearest pharmacy is.

If you contact UHS we will assess your query and may refer you to a pharmacy ourselves if appropriate.

Visit local pharmacies for more information about what they can help with.

Evening and weekend appointments

These are available to patients registered at UHS and can be pre-booked the usual way within our normal opening times.

Evening appointments are offered at UHS on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 6.30pm to 9.30pm during term-time. Outside of term-time these appointments are available at other GP Surgeries in Sheffield.

Weekend appointments are offered at UHS on Saturday mornings between 9am to 12pm.

Home visits

Home visits are only for housebound patients and for those too ill to attend the surgery. A GP will decide this, and we may offer you an alternative appointment if a home visit is not deemed necessary. A GP also decides how urgently home visits are needed.

In most cases it is best for you to be seen at the surgery as we have better facilities, diagnostic aids and lighting.

If you think you need a home visit you can request one by phoning reception on +44 114 222 2100. The receptionist will ask what your problem is, then we can arrange the most appropriate appointment for you.

Monthly reporting

Some key metrics we monitor each month include: