> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.bilby.health/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Book an appointment

> Book from the calendar or a patient, find the next free time, link a referral and hold a time.

## From the calendar

1. Click an empty time in the practitioner's column. The new appointment panel opens with the date, time and practitioner filled in.
2. Find the patient, or add them as a new patient.
3. Choose an appointment type. The length fills in from the type.
4. Set it to repeat, make it telehealth, or link a referral if you need to.
5. Select **Create appointment**.

If the type has a fee, Bilby adds it and creates the invoice. Add comments afterwards in the appointment panel.

## Find the next free time

In the new appointment panel, the **Next available** link under Practitioner offers that practitioner's next free time. Admins also have **Next available** in the toolbar, which shows the next free time for every practitioner.

## From a patient's record

Open the patient and select **Book appointment**. Choose a practitioner, pick a free time, choose the type, and select **Create appointment**.

## Link a referral

Once you choose a patient, pick one of their referrals if the visit should count towards it. Each shows how many sessions are left. Bilby warns you if a referral is expected and none is chosen, but you can still book. See [Patients](https://docs.bilby.health/patients/overview).

## Warnings while you book

Bilby warns you when a date is a clinic closure or a time is outside the practitioner's hours. You can still book. Bilby doesn't stop double bookings, so check for overlaps yourself.

## Hold a time without confirming it

Use **Hold** instead of **Create appointment** to reserve a time, for example until a patient pays. It appears under [Awaiting payment](https://docs.bilby.health/calendar/front-desk-queues.md#awaiting-payment) until you confirm or release it. A hold can't repeat.


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