How to Choose an Online Doctor
This guide is general information, not medical advice. For anything urgent or life-threatening, contact your local emergency services.
1. Decide whether telemedicine fits
Online consultations work well for non-emergency needs: common conditions, follow-ups, repeat prescriptions, advice, and figuring out where to go next (care navigation). They are not a substitute for emergency care or for situations that need hands-on examination. If in doubt about urgency, treat it as urgent and seek in-person help.
2. Use real waiting-time data to choose your path
The single most useful input when deciding between the NHS and going private is the actual expected wait for your specialty. GeraClinic publishes a free directory of NHS waiting times by specialty drawn from England referral-to-treatment (RTT) data. Look up your specialty, see the typical wait, and weigh it honestly:
- Long expected wait + time-sensitive need: an online private consultation may save meaningful time.
- Short expected wait or non-urgent need: waiting on the NHS may be the better-value choice.
Either way, you're deciding with data instead of guesswork.
3. Check what the consultation includes
Before booking, confirm what's covered: consultation, any prescriptions, records, and onward referral if needed. GeraClinic provides online doctors, prescriptions, medical records and care navigation in one place, with a single Gera sign-in so your history stays consistent across visits.
4. Keep your records together
Use one account so prescriptions and history don't fragment across services. If you also use other Gera products, a Gera Prime membership adds cross-product savings and priority support.
Frequently asked questions
When is an online doctor appropriate?
For non-emergency care — common conditions, follow-ups, prescriptions, advice and care navigation. For urgent or life-threatening situations, contact local emergency services.
Should I wait for the NHS or go private?
Compare the realistic NHS wait for your specialty against a private appointment using the free NHS waiting-times directory, then decide based on how time-sensitive your need is.
Can I get a prescription online?
GeraClinic supports online consultations, prescriptions, records and care navigation. What can be prescribed depends on the clinician's assessment and local rules.
Want to speak to a doctor online?