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 the provider is verified and CQC-registered
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. You can browse the free verified doctors directory, see exactly how each doctor is verified, and cross-check any UK provider against the official CQC-registered healthcare directory and CQC care services by category.
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?