The Rise of Online Consultations
Increased Use During COVID-19
Online consultations have become more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the NHS and GP practices strive to protect both patients and staff while continuing to provide essential care.
What is an eConsult or Online Consultation?
NHS England defines online consultations as a process where you fill in an online form or speak to someone online about a health issue. These consultations come in various forms, from free text boxes to more structured questionnaires, each offering unique benefits for both patients and practices.
Convenience at Your Fingertips
When you call your practice for an appointment, you often face the challenge of waiting to speak to a receptionist who will ask about your symptoms. An online consultation collects more detailed information than a phone call, allowing you to provide this information at any time, day or night. This means you don’t have to wait for the practice to open or deal with phone queues.
Not a Shortcut to Appointments
Online consultations are NOT a shortcut to getting an appointment. Often, an appointment is not the right outcome for every patient request. The practice needs to understand all patient needs to prioritize appointments for those most in need. They also decide on the appropriate format and timing for the appointment and the right healthcare professional to assist you.
By using online consultations, practices can efficiently manage patient needs and ensure timely and appropriate care.
Understanding Remote Consultations
You might also encounter the term ‘remote consultations.’ These occur after the GP practice reviews the information from your online consultation. Unlike face-to-face appointments, remote consultations are conducted via phone or video call, allowing you to receive care without visiting the surgery.
What Happens After an Online Consultation?
Once you submit an online consultation, The GP practice reviews your request and decides on the best course of action. This could include:
- An email with self-care advice
- A prescription ready for collection
- A sick note
- A follow-up phone or video call
- A face-to-face appointment
Online consultations help ensure you receive the right care as quickly as possible.
Enhanced Triage and Patient Care
The information you provide online helps the practice determine which healthcare professional is best suited to your needs and how urgently you require assistance. This process, known as triage, is crucial in managing the high demand for NHS services. Triage is also used in other healthcare settings, such as A&E, to prioritize patients based on the severity of their condition.
By utilizing online consultations, practices can efficiently manage patient needs and ensure timely and appropriate care.
How Online Consultations Enhance Patient Care
Comprehensive Patient Information
Online consultations provide the practice with detailed insights into the needs of all our patients. The information you submit online helps the practice determine which healthcare professional (doctor, nurse, or another specialist) is best suited to address your concerns and how urgently you need assistance. This process is similar to calling or visiting the practice but offers a more thorough overview of your symptoms.
The Role of Triage
Triage is the process of prioritizing patients based on the urgency of their condition. This is essential in managing the high volume of patients seeking help across the NHS. Triage also occurs in other healthcare settings, such as A&E, where patients are assessed based on the severity of their illness or injury. The GP practice uses the detailed information from online consultations to decide who needs immediate attention and who can wait a bit longer.
Detailed Symptom Information
Online consultations allow you to provide The GP surgery with comprehensive details about your symptoms and their impact on you. This helps us allocate resources effectively, considering the availability of doctors and nurses, your symptoms, and the needs of other patients.
Quick Help Without Traveling to the GP Practice
Convenience of Online Consultations
Online consultations allow you to get help quickly without needing to travel to the GP practice. According to NHS England, once you complete the online form, you will receive an email or text confirming your consultation and providing advice on the next steps. If further contact is needed, the GP surgery may suggest a phone or video consultation.
Next Steps After Submission
After you submit your online consultation, the practice reviews the information and decides on the appropriate next steps based on your needs and medical history. We will inform you of these steps, which might include:
- Links to NHS guidance on self-care
- Notification that a fit note or prescription is ready for collection
- Sending a fit note via email or a prescription to your nominated pharmacy
These forms of communication save you a trip to the practice while still providing the necessary support.
Face-to-Face Appointments When Necessary
If the doctor or nurse determines that an in-person visit is essential, they will suggest a face-to-face appointment. In many cases, around 4 in 5 patients can be helped without an in-person consultation. Limiting face-to-face appointments to those who truly need them is especially important during COVID-19 to minimize the risk of spreading the virus.
More Time for Patient Care
If a follow-up consultation is needed, it could be conducted via email, video, or in person. The doctor or nurse will have all the information you provided, along with your medical records, allowing them to research your symptoms and prepare for your consultation. This means they can provide more focused and informed care, potentially giving you more time and attention than in a typical 10-minute, face-to-face appointment. When you do speak to the GP, the consultation can be more focused on next steps, such as treatment plans, since they already understand your needs.
About eConsult: Your Online Consultation Provider
What is eConsult?
eConsult is the most widely used online consultation provider across the NHS. Founded and operated by NHS doctors, eConsult leverages technology to enhance patient care. Accessible via your practice’s website or the NHS App in England, it allows you to select the type of help you need for yourself or your child.
How Does eConsult Work?
Our structured online questionnaires are designed to gather the most crucial information needed by doctors and nurses to provide the best care. While it may take a bit of time to complete, this process ensures clinical safety and helps us deliver the most appropriate assistance for each patient. Available 24/7 from any device, eConsult offers convenience and flexibility. Over 80% of users report satisfaction with the service. You can read patient case studies for firsthand accounts.
Tailored to Your Needs
Recognizing that every patient has unique routines and needs, eConsult is built to work for the majority. Feedback from GP practices indicates that it supports the workloads of GPs, nurses, and other practice staff effectively. Our platform is designed with patient safety in mind, based on our clinical expertise, ensuring confidence in both submitting and reviewing eConsults.
Clarifying the Role of eConsult
We understand that the evolving landscape of GP practices and new healthcare access methods can be confusing. eConsult is not intended to replace face-to-face appointments but to provide an additional method for submitting requests. This ensures that the GP practice can allocate the right care to you and other patients efficiently.
Check if Your Practice Uses eConsult
Our practice provides the eConsult service. Please click here to us the service.