eConsult: our online consultation tool

Once you have submitted your eConsult online, you will receive a copy of the eConsult report via email. This email will also contain the unique reference number for your eConsult, should you need to speak to the practice about any of the information it contains.

We will aim to respond to your eConsult by the end of the next working day, within surgery opening hours

Our response will depend on your submission and reported symptoms:

• You may be offered an appointment, either on the day or for a later date. This may not be with your GP, but may be with an Advanced Nurse Practitioner or other health professional at the practice, depending on your query.
• You may receive a phone call for you to speak to a health professional at the practice, this is because you may not need a face-to-face appointment to resolve your query. This will save you from having to come into the practice.
• You may be directed to another health professional outside of the practice, as they may be best placed to offer you the advice or support you need. These may include local pharmacy support, a minor injuries unit or other services such as physiotherapy.
• You may be directed towards the appropriate self-help advice by a member of the practice.
• We may call you back or leave a voicemail if we are unable to reach you. You may receive a text message or email with further information, however, you may not be able to respond to the message you have received and may need to call the surgery. This is to ensure your safety, as we cannot discuss personal matters unless we are certain we are speaking to you, or someone who you have authorised to speak to us on your behalf.

• The whole process is totally secure
• It is not suitable for emergencies or where urgent care is required, responses given are within surgery opening hours (see this page for information on urgent or out of hours help)
• It is not a replacement for traditional ways of booking appointments, you are still free to call the surgery to book a GP or nurse appointment at any time
• It is not possible to order a repeat prescription via e-consult, to do this, see our prescriptions page
• eConsult does not keep your data, it is deleted once passed on to your GP surgery