Before using Online GP Care you should check if you can get an appointment with your usual healthcare provider. You should always see them first if you can.
Enrol with a general practice
What health issues Online GP Care can help with
Online consultations can provide care and help for things like:
- allergies
- coughs, cold and flu
- tummy bugs
- prescriptions
- medical certificates
- skin irritations and rashes.
If it is not clear what your health issue may be
A healthcare professional may want to see you in person if it is not clear from your symptoms what may be wrong. This is so they do not miss something important.
For babies or children under 2 years of age, even minor symptoms can get worse quickly or be hard to diagnose online.
Health issues that are not suitable for online consultations
There are some non life-threatening health issues that an online consultation is not suitable for. If this turns out to be the case, your online healthcare professional will direct you to see someone in person.
Some conditions need hands-on assessment to diagnose properly. For example:
- tummy pain where they need to check for tenderness or swelling
- swollen joints or injury that need to be felt or moved around
- changes in your skin or lumps on the skin
- if you feel weak, numb or dizzy.
Tests or procedures that cannot be done online include:
- ear infections where a doctor needs to look inside the ear
- throat or chest issues that need to be checked or listened to
- having cervical samples taken, or physical screenings such as breast examination
- wound care or dressing changes.
It is up to each healthcare professional to decide if they will give you a prescription or a medical certificate. These services cannot give out strong medications that can be dangerous or addictive.
