eConsult

What is eConsult?

eConsult is a way of us and many other NHS GP practices who use it, to offer online consultations to our patients. 

eConsult allows patients to submit their symptoms or requests to their own GP electronically and offers around the clock NHS self-help information, signposting to services, and a symptom checker.

eConsult is the most widely used digital triage tool in NHS primary care, built by NHS GPs for NHS patients, designed to enhance patient access, improve practice efficiencies and signpost patients to the right place at the right time for their care. 

econsult

e-Consult - Information about the service

So what do I have to do as a patient to access eConsult and what happens after I submit the form?

1. Click on the eConsult Tile (blue banner) on the practice website or on any of the links added to most pages, with the option to get general advice or help for a specific condition or administrative request.

2. Then select 'help for a condition' via a range of options – type to search, A-Z list or by body area.

3. Once a condition is chosen, you can access self-help information, access local services and pharmacy advice, or get advice from a GP at the surgery.

4. If selecting ‘treatment and advice from my GP’ then you will be directed to complete an online form about your symptoms. 

The more information and details you provide us with will help us effectively triage and advise on treatment or tests you may require better.

If you chose the correct online form that closely matches your symptoms or medical problem, then the questions on the form will be the ones our GP's would ask meaning they can advise on treatment more effectively for you.

You will then be emailed a confirmation of the consultation and will be informed that the practice will respond to you by the end of the next working day at the latest.  

This response may be to inform you that your eConsult has been triaged for a routine appointment and has been allocated to clinician for a specified date.  If this date is unsuitable for example, you may not be able to answer the phone due to work committments, then please telephone reception to rearrange for a more suitable day.

If you do not get a specific message from the practice to inform you the eConsult has been triaged for a specific date, this means it has been allocated to a clinician to review within the next 2 working days.

The clinician may respond to your e-Consult in a few different ways. 

  • By email
  • They may call you on the telephone number you provided if there is additional information they need to clarify with you. 
  • Or you may get a text message if a quick response or information is needed.

Please ensure you are able to answer the telephone, if the doctor needs to ring you.  This may come up on your phone as a 'Private Number' or a 'Witheld Number' so it is important you are able to answer this call if you have submitted an e-Consult to us. 

Please check your junk mail or spam folder for confirmation of the consultation and the any subsequent email responses from the surgery.

Frequently Asked Questions about e-Consult

Questions

Answers

When will I get a response back?

 

The practice will aim to respond to your eConsult within two working days as a maximum.

This response may be to inform you that your eConsult has been triaged for a routine appointment and has been allocated to clinician for a specified date.  If this date is unsuitable for example, you may not be able to answer the phone due to work committments, then please telephone reception to rearrange for a more suitable day.

If you do not get a specific message from the practice to inform you the eConsult has been triaged for a specific date, this means it has been allocated to a clinician to review within the next 2 working days.

You will be unable to submit an eConsult to the practice outside of our opening hours, but will have access to the self help and pharmacy advice through eConsult.

I don’t have access to the Internet or find it difficult to use

 

Not a problem.  We understand that many patients are unable to use eConsult or find it difficult. Please telephone reception and a member of our admin team can ask you some questions and triage your problem and arrange for a telephone consultation.

What about my child?

You can select ‘I want help for my child’ option.

But I need to be seen?

Your eConsult will be reviewed by a clinician and if you need to be seen you will be given an appointment.  We are aiming to reduce the transmission of coronavirus by triaging all our appointments to minimise the risks of the coronavirus to our patients and staff.

Not every medical problem needs an examination by a GP, and our clinicians are able to diagnose many medical problems and help your symptoms just as safely and effectively without a face to face appointment. We have access to receiving text messages from our patients if required to help with problems such as rashes. 

But I need to be seen today as an emergency?

We advise our patients to not use eConsult if they feel their symptoms are an emergency or urgent & advise that you should telephone our reception team directly on 01925 823 502. When the practice is closed you will be unable to submit an eConsult to us, and advise you call 111 if we are closed.

eConsult will flag up when we receive it if you answer questions which may indicate an urgent problem and/or needs an urgent review and it will be flagged with the GP to be reviewed by them. 

I completed an eConsult and I was advised to contact the practice for an Urgent appointment?

 

This happens when a patient reports symptoms that suggest they are too unwell for the eConsult system.

If the eConsult system advises that you call the practice - please do so on our usual practice number and one of our receptionist will add you to one of the doctors appointment lists for them to call you.

Sometimes you may be advised by eConsult to call 111 or attend A&E.  This occurs when the symptoms reported by a patient suggest they are too unwell for the eConsult system - but that more urgent medical intervention is required.  

I completed an eConsult, but I have not heard back from the practice.

You do not need to ring us until 6.30pm on the next working day. If it has been more than the next working day since you submitted your eConsult - please check your junk email folder and also your text messages.  If there is no email in your junk folder - please telephone reception & we will check to see if someone has tried to contact you.

Annual Chronic Disease Reviews on e-Consult

We want to continue to offer our patients the same level of care for managing their long-term conditions, but also minimise the risks of transmission of coronavirus to all our patients and staff.  We now have the ability to do part of your annual chronic disease review using e-Consult.  This allows the freedom to complete the questionnaire at a time convenient to you and avoid an unnecessary face to face appointment if your disease is stable. 

Currently we are only able to offer this for patients with asthma, COPD, hypertension and those requiring a review of their oral contraceptive pill.  However e-Consult are constantly developing this service and we hope to be able to offer this type of review for other long-term conditions in the future.

If you are invited by the practice to complete an e-Consult for your annual review - please use this links below. 

Please note: Your answers will be reviewed by our experienced practice nurses who may then contact you by telephone if further information is required.   If they feel they need to see you face to face in surgery - you will be contacted by the practice to arrange an appointment. 

You may also still need to attend the surgery for blood tests - but you will be advised if this is necessary once your e-Consult has been reviewed.

Click on the Icons below for the Annual Review you require

diabetes

Diabetes Check
lungs

COPD Check
inhaleruse

Asthma Check