Why Navigation Bars Are Essential for Modern Healthcare Websites

If you’ve ever tried to build or update a GP surgery website, you know that appointment pages are inherently complex.

They need to explain multiple ways to book, offer clear guidance on urgent care, handle home visits and transport help, and signpost patients to out-of-hours or emergency services — all on one page.

That’s why navigation bars aren’t just “nice to have” — they are essential. And there’s a great example of this in action on this appointment page from a live practice site: 👉 https://www.llanhealthcare.co.uk/pages/4346-how-to-make-an-appointment-click-here-to-find-out-how-to-book-an-appointment

📱 Stop the Scroll — Give Patients What They Need Now

On mobile devices, endless scrolling can be frustrating and confusing — especially for patients who are:

Scheduling appointments
Looking for urgent care info
Trying to find out how to book specific services

The example page above opens with a “Jump to a section” navigation bar right at the top, linking to key parts of the appointment content: ✔ Digital booking ✔ Same-day (urgent) ✔ Home visits ✔ Transport ✔ Children & young people ✔ Respect & conduct ✔ Emergencies ✔ Out-of-hours

This simple structure means users don’t have to scroll through all the content just to find what they need next — they can tap a link and go straight there.

🧠 Why This Works — From a UX and Business Perspective

Here’s what good on-page navigation delivers for healthcare websites like yours:

✅ Better task completion

Patients get answers faster — whether they want to make a routine booking, find urgent care pathways, or understand home visit policies.

✅ Fewer frustrated calls to reception

Clear self-serve pathways reduce unnecessary phone traffic and free up staff time.

✅ Higher engagement and lower bounce rates

A page that delivers what users came for keeps them on your site and builds trust.

✅ Highly effective on mobile

Because most patients browse on phones first, anchored navigation directly addresses the biggest usability pain point.

🧩 **How It Should Look on Your Website**

A well-designed appointment page should:

✔ Start with a clear call to action (e.g., “How to make an appointment”) ✔ Include a visible navigation bar that links to each major content section ✔ Allow users to jump quickly to the exact information they need ✔ Include sticky or anchored section titles so readers always know where they are

This pattern — used successfully by the example page — creates a clear content hierarchy that feels intuitive and fast.

📈 The Business Impact for Practices

When patients can find what they need quickly, your practice benefits:

📞 Fewer inbound phone queries
⏱ More efficient front-desk time
📊 Higher patient satisfaction
🌐 A more modern, professional online presence

Good navigation isn’t just about design — it’s about delivering value to patients and operational efficiency to your organisation.

👉 In Summary

If your website still relies on long scrolling pages with no anchor links, you’re asking users to work for their answers.

A navigation bar — like the one on this example appointment page — empowers patients with:

✔ Clear pathways ✔ Faster access ✔ Better mobile experience ✔ A modern, trusted digital presence