An online GP can help you understand symptoms, discuss treatment and plan the next step. But a remote consultation is not a promise that every problem can be diagnosed or treated through a screen. If a doctor recommends an examination or a test, that is a clinical decision about what information is needed, not a failure of online care.
At The Online GP by The Wellness, the aim is a useful medical decision in the right setting. Tell the team what you need help with before choosing a telephone or video appointment. You can enquire by WhatsApp, telephone or email.
What a video call adds, and what it cannot do
A video consultation allows a conversation with visual information. You can explain a concern, describe how it has changed and discuss relevant records. NHS guidance explains that video appointments can avoid travelling to a surgery, while still allowing a healthcare professional to assess whether you need further care.
A camera does not reproduce a hands-on examination. Lighting, sound, connection quality and the part of the body being assessed can all limit what can be understood remotely. A photograph may add context, but it does not automatically make a diagnosis reliable.
The doctor may need observations, an examination, a test or a review by a different service. If that happens, ask what needs to be checked, how urgently and where you should go next.
Why a prescription may need more information
The General Medical Council's remote-prescribing principles say that prescribing is only appropriate when it is safe. The clinician must have enough information about your health, undertake an adequate assessment and verify important information through records, examination or testing where needed.
This matters particularly when starting a medicine, changing treatment or reviewing a long-term condition. Bring the exact name, strength and directions of your existing medicine. Explain allergies, other treatments and recent monitoring. A photograph of a box can support the conversation, but it may not provide all the information needed.
A paid appointment does not guarantee a prescription. If a medicine is not appropriate, a useful consultation should still leave you understanding why and what the alternative next step is.
When in-person assessment is the better starting point
The distinction is about what must be checked, not whether a symptom sounds simple. A problem may need examination of an area that cannot be assessed adequately on screen, physical observations or testing. An online conversation may help plan that assessment, but it should not delay urgent care.
If you think someone is having a heart attack, stroke or another life-threatening emergency, call 999. If you need medical help now and do not know which service to use, NHS 111 can help direct you. An online booking request is not an emergency service.
If you are uncertain about the format, ask the team before booking. Describe the main concern and whether anything is getting worse. You do not need to diagnose yourself first.
Your records make the decision stronger
Remote care is safer when important information can be checked. The GMC identifies risks when a one-off service has limited access to someone's usual medical records. Tell the doctor who normally looks after you and what has already been investigated. Bring relevant results rather than relying on memory alone.
Where information needs to be shared with another healthcare professional, discuss consent, what will be shared and why. Keep a copy of the agreed plan. If you have a follow-up or test arranged, clarify who will review it and how you will receive the result.
A short checklist before the call
- Write down the main problem and when it started.
- List medicines, doses and allergies.
- Have relevant results or letters available.
- Find a quiet private space with a working connection.
- Be ready to confirm your identity, current location and contact number.
- Think about the decision you need help with, rather than expecting a particular prescription.
If the connection fails, use the contact route the team provides. Do not send sensitive images or records through an unconfirmed channel.
Before you finish
Ask what the working explanation is, what remains uncertain and whether anything needs an examination or test. Confirm what to do if you do not improve or if symptoms change. Understand whether you need another appointment and who owns the next step.
The value of an online consultation is not that it keeps every aspect of care online. It is that it helps you make a sensible decision without unnecessary delay, while recognising when a different setting is needed.
Appointment options
Telephone consultation is £59, video consultation £150 and an in-person GP consultation £220. Confirm the right format and any separate test or treatment fees before booking. Availability must be checked with the team.
Enquire about an online GP consultation, call 020 3951 3429 or email team@thewellnesslondon.com.
Questions people ask
Can an online GP diagnose every condition?
No. Some concerns can be assessed remotely, while others need an examination, observations or testing. The doctor should explain any limitation and the next step.
Does a video appointment guarantee a prescription?
No. Prescribing depends on clinical assessment, reliable information and whether the medicine is appropriate and safe.
What if I need to be seen in person?
Ask where you should be seen, how urgently and what information to take. Do not treat a routine appointment as the right route if you need urgent or emergency help.
Sources
- GMC: principles for remote consultations and prescribing
This article is general information, not a diagnosis or an individual treatment plan.