Once a condition is chosen, you can access self-help information, access local services and pharmacy advice, or get advice from your GP at the surgery.

If selecting ‘treatment and advice from my GP’ you will be directed to complete an online form about your symptoms. You will need to confirm that you do not have any symptoms that require immediate or urgent care. Please answer questions as accurately as you canso we can find the best way to help you. Your GP may not be the most appropriate person to see – eConsult helps us to know what you might need help for so that you can see the right member of staff for the help you need the first time around. This means that we can better manage available resources in a time of difficulties within the NHS. You may be offered an appointment, either on the day or for a later date. This may not be with your GP, but may be with an Advanced Nurse Practitioner or other health professional at the practice, depending on your query. They will have had time to look at your medical record and look into possible reasons for your symptoms and do some research if needed. They might also decide they don’t have all the information they need, so they may ask you to go for some tests before they have a good idea about what your symptoms mean. All of this is happening without you being in the same room – which means the GP or nurse is protecting your time, whilst providing you with the same care they would normally. In fact, some might argue that they are able to provide better care because they have more time and more information. This means you might get more of your GP’s time than you would in a normal 10-minute, face-to-face consultation. When you do speak to your GP, remotely or in person, this consultation should be more focussed on the next steps, such as treatment plans, as they already know why you need their help.

eConsult

eConsult can help you to manage your condition or symptoms by providing you with the best self-help information available, access to local services, or a convenient way to get help and advice from your GP practice. Instead of having to wait weeks for an appointment or queue on the phone for hours, eConsult allows you to tell your practice what you need help or treatment for, so that they can advise you on the best next steps, all at your convenience.

If you don’t have a webcam on your PC, you can use the one on your smartphone by sending an invitation to your phone ( see FAQs below)eConsult allows you to seek advice from your GP or to help yourself to manage your condition or symptoms at all hours of the day, from wherever you are. This may be the same GP at the same practice that you have been to for years, meaning they are familiar with your medical history and can continue to treat you. Along with ‘online consultations’ you might also see the words ‘remote consultations’ being used. A remote consultation is sometimes what happens after the GP practice has reviewed the information you provided in your online consultation. Unlike a face-to-face appointment which would be a ‘normal’ consultation, a remote consultation is done without you and your doctor having to be in the same location (your GP surgery). Instead, it is a consultation carried out remotely, via phone or through a video call. What happens after an online consultation?

You may receive a phone call for you to speak to a health professional at the practice, this is because you may not need a face-to-face appointment to resolve your query. This will save you from having to come into the practice. You'll typically see options to ask your GP for medical advice or send a request. Online consultation providers If the doctor or nurse decides they really need to see you in person, they will suggest you come in for a face-to-face appointment. In our experience, around 4 in 5 patients can be helped without them going into the practice for an in-person consultation. Limiting face-to-face appointments to those who really need them is very important, especially during COVID-19, as people might not show any signs of being ill. Your doctors or nurse can dedicate more time to helping you The service allows photographs to be attached and we encourage you to do so where helpful, for example for rash / acne / wounds etc. Please do not upload photo's of sensitive areas such as genitals. If these photo's are submitted, they will be deleted and you will be required to submit a new request. You may be directed to another health professional outside of the practice, as they may be best placed to offer you the advice or support you need. These may include local pharmacy support, a minor injuries unit or other services such as physiotherapy.The great thing about online consultations is that they provide your GP surgery with very detailed information about what symptoms you have and the effect they are having on you. They can then decide, based on the doctors and nurses available to support you, your symptoms, and the needs of other patients, how best to help all of you.