An e-consult or 'electronic consultation' is a digital method of communicating and engaging with your NHS GP service.
Online consultation platforms like Hero Health and eConsult are digital tools that allows NHS patients to reach their GP practice online. They are designed to make accessing medical help faster, easier, and more flexible—letting you speak with your doctor without needing to go into the practice.
With an e-consult, you can describe and summarise your symptoms, ask for a sick note, get test results, and even find self-help resources, all from your device.
Hero Health connects NHS GP practices with their patients online. Here’s a step-by-step look at how it works:
If you’re feeling unwell or have a request for your practice, you can submit an e-consultation by going to your GP practice's website, and selecting one of:
You'll be presented with the options selected by your practice. These can vary during in-hours and out-of-hours service. You may see a pathway for a medical e-consult, and a pathway for an administrative e-consult. To continue, confirm you don't have any symptoms requiring emergency care.
Fill in the details about your symptoms or request. The online consultation or e-consult form is determined by your practice. Once completed, submit the form.
Your GP practice will review the e-consult and respond with the next best step. Sometimes, you won’t need an in-person appointment, and your GP can handle your issue over the phone or with advice. You may be sent a link to book an appointment or provide some more information.
Online consultations or online triage gives patients more flexibility and convenience, and it provides your GP with all the necessary information to triage and prioritize each case. Here’s a quick rundown of what it includes:
E-Consultations provide flexibility and reduces the need for trips to the GP office. You can get advice from your GP practice quickly, often without waiting for an appointment, and if offered, access helpful resources when your GP is closed. You can also submit non-urgent requests like sick notes or test results, which is a real time-saver.
By using Hero Health's care navigation online consultation solution GP practices benefit by having a more efficient system that lets them triage cases faster. With electronic consultations or e-consults, they can handle more cases without overloading appointment schedules, ensuring that patients who need in-person visits get priority.
Hero Health's online consultation solution is built by NHS doctors to make accessing care simpler. It’s currently used in 100s of NHS practices and has proven to be a reliable, safe way for patients to get help quickly. From quick questions to symptom checks and prescription requests, Hero's electronic consultations can streamline healthcare, saving time for both you and your GP.
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