Key takeaways
- Make booking or requesting an appointment possible in two clicks.
- Give GPs a dedicated referral page with exactly what they need.
- Keep content accurate, plain and in line with professional guidance.
For many private consultants, the website was built years ago, rarely updated and never really designed around patients. Yet it is usually the first thing a new patient or referring GP sees. A clear, modern website does not need to be complicated. It needs to do five jobs well.
1. Help patients book
The most common action a visitor wants is to book or request an appointment. That should be possible in two clicks from any page, on a phone. Whether you use an online booking platform or a simple request form, make it obvious and make it work.
2. Explain what you treat, in plain language
Patients search for their condition, not your title. Short, accurate pages on the conditions and procedures you treat help people understand whether you are the right specialist. Keep them factual and avoid promotional claims; professional guidance on advertising applies online too.
3. Serve referring GPs
GPs are busy. A dedicated page that explains how to refer, what information to include, your clinic locations and expected waiting times makes it easier to choose you.
A good practice website saves your secretary hours every week by answering the questions patients would otherwise phone about.
4. Make paying simple
Secure online payment links for consultation fees reduce admin and chasing. Patients increasingly expect to pay the way they pay for everything else.
5. Build trust
Your qualifications, hospital affiliations, insurer recognition and genuine patient feedback all help a new patient feel confident. So does a clear privacy notice, because medical data deserves care.
Keep it running
A website is not a one-off project. Clinic times change, insurers change and new procedures are added. The practices with the best websites have someone keeping them current.
Forlanto's Practice Online service gives consultants a professional website, booking and payment links, a GP referral page and ongoing updates for a simple monthly fee. We handle the technology so you can focus on patients.
