Do I need to be registered with an NHS GP to use this?
No. But we would strongly encourage you to be registered, and we will say so if you are not. NHS registration gives you a continuous lifelong record, vaccination and screening recall, and access to referral pathways we cannot use. We work alongside that, not instead of it.
Will you tell my GP?
Only with your consent, and we will ask. Most people agree, and it is the safer choice — a practice that does not know what you have been prescribed elsewhere is working with an incomplete picture. If you would rather we did not, that is your decision and it is recorded.
What if I turn out to need examining?
The GP will say so, usually within the first few minutes, and direct you to where it can be done — an NHS appointment, an urgent care centre, or A&E depending on what it is. You still had a clinical assessment and a clear direction, which is often the thing that was actually missing. Where a consultation ends in the first couple of minutes because it plainly should not be remote, we will refund it.
Can I get antibiotics?
Where they are genuinely indicated, yes, and the prescription is issued within about ten minutes. Where they are not, you will get an explanation instead.
Paying for the appointment does not buy a prescription — the fee covers the assessment. Most coughs, sore throats and colds are viral, and antibiotics for those cause side effects without shortening anything. A delayed prescription, to be collected only if things have not improved in 48 hours, is often the sensible middle ground and we are happy to issue one.
Which medicines will you never prescribe?
Opioid painkillers, benzodiazepines, z-drugs for sleep, and stimulants — without exception. Remote consultation is not a safe setting for controlled drugs. This is not a judgement about any individual patient; it applies to everybody.
Can I book on behalf of someone else?
You can book and pay for another adult, but they need to be present for the consultation and to consent themselves. For children, a parent or guardian with parental responsibility needs to be present throughout.
Is it really a full 20 minutes?
Yes, and it is the substantive difference from a standard ten-minute appointment. Ten minutes is enough to address the first thing someone mentions; it is rarely enough to take a full history, review a medication list and reach a considered answer. A great many appointments end with the real problem unraised, and that is a structural issue rather than a failing of the doctor.
Where can I be when I take the call?
Anywhere in England or Wales with a private, quiet space and a decent connection. Not a car park or an open-plan office — people censor what they say when they can be overheard, and the censored part is frequently the important part.
What about my records and confidentiality?
Consultations are confidential and records are held securely under UK GDPR. You can request a copy of your record at any time. Nothing goes to your employer, your insurer or your NHS practice without your explicit consent — with the narrow exceptions that apply to every doctor, where there is a serious risk to you or someone else.