Reviewed by The Wellness Team. Last reviewed October 2026.
A GP can diagnose and treat most common problems over the phone or by video, including infections, rashes, sleep and mood concerns, and medication reviews. They can also issue prescriptions, fit notes, referral letters and blood test requests. The Online GP by The Wellness offers telephone consultations from £59 and 30-minute video consultations from £150, with same-day appointments.
Key points
- Around a third of GP appointments in England now take place remotely, with about 25% by phone and 8% online, according to an analysis of June 2025 GP appointment data.
- Online and video GP appointments in England rose from about 2.3 million in April 2025 to almost 3.5 million in April 2026.
- The Royal College of GPs says evidence shows remote care is safe in the vast majority of cases.
- UK healthcare regulators hold remote consultations to the same standards as face-to-face care, including an adequate assessment before any prescription.
- The Online GP by The Wellness offers a 15-minute telephone consultation from £59 and a 30-minute video consultation from £150.
What problems can a GP treat by phone or video?
A GP can treat most everyday problems by phone or video, because the history the patient gives carries most of the diagnosis. Common examples include coughs, colds and flu, urinary infections, skin rashes and acne, allergies and hay fever, stomach upsets, headaches, sleep problems, low mood and anxiety, and contraception and menstrual concerns.
Remote care also suits ongoing needs. A GP can review long-term conditions such as asthma, high blood pressure or thyroid problems, check how a medicine is working, and plan the next step without you leaving home or the office.
Video adds what the phone cannot. The doctor can look at a rash, a swollen joint, an eye or a throat, and watch how you breathe and move.
Ask a doctor on WhatsApp whether your problem suits a phone or video appointment.
What can a GP issue after a remote consultation?
After a phone or video consultation, a GP can issue a private prescription sent to a pharmacy, a fit note for work, a referral letter to a specialist, a blood test request, and a written summary for your records. Most patients leave the call with a plan and the paperwork they need.
At The Online GP by The Wellness, fees for each service are published.
- Telephone consultation, from £59.
- Video consultation, 30 minutes, from £150.
- Same-day urgent appointment, from £220.
- New prescription consultation, from £85.
- Repeat prescription refill, from £45.
- Fit note, from £100.
Blood tests requested during a remote consultation are drawn at TDL, 76 Wimpole Street, and read by a doctor. Book a same-day telephone consultation on WhatsApp.
When is a phone call enough, and when is video better?
A phone call is enough when the problem is straightforward and nothing needs to be seen, such as a urinary infection, a repeat prescription, test results or a follow-up. Video is better when the doctor needs to look at something, when a problem is more complex, or when you want a longer conversation.
The Online GP by The Wellness runs telephone consultations for around 15 minutes and video consultations for around 30 minutes. Most patients with a new or worrying problem choose video because it allows a fuller assessment.
Controlled medicines and mental health prescriptions are issued only after a video consultation. UK prescribing guidance says controlled medicines should not be prescribed remotely without access to the relevant medical records.
When do I need to be seen in person?
You need to be seen in person when the doctor must examine you, such as listening to the chest, feeling the abdomen, checking a lump, or looking in the ears. The remote doctor tells you if this is needed and arranges an in-person appointment the same day where possible.
The Online GP by The Wellness offers in-person and same-day urgent appointments from £220 at its clinic at Unit 4, 10 Portman Square, London, and home visits across London from £450.
Call 999 for chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, signs of a stroke, heavy bleeding or a suspected serious allergic reaction. These need emergency care, not a remote appointment.
Is a remote GP appointment safe?
Yes. A remote GP appointment is safe for most problems when the doctor takes a full history, recognises the limits of a remote assessment and arranges an examination when needed. UK regulators expect the same standards whether a consultation happens face to face or remotely.
The high level principles for remote consultations and prescribing, agreed by UK healthcare regulators, ask doctors to give their name and registration details, establish a proper dialogue and recognise when remote care is not enough.
The Royal College of GPs said in 2025 that remote consultations offer convenience and flexibility many patients value, and that evidence shows remote care is safe in the vast majority of cases, as reported by Digital Health.
How quickly can I book a phone or video GP appointment?
Same-day phone and video appointments are available at The Online GP by The Wellness. You message the team on WhatsApp, choose a time, and receive a short intake form after payment so the doctor has your details before the call.
- Message the team on WhatsApp with a short description of your problem.
- Choose telephone, video or a same-day urgent appointment.
- Complete the short intake form sent after booking.
- Speak to a GMC-registered doctor at your chosen time.
- Receive prescriptions, notes or referrals straight after the consultation.
Book a phone or video GP appointment on WhatsApp.
How much does a phone or video GP appointment cost?
Some central London practices charge £150 or more for a 15-minute remote consultation, according to a 2026 private GP fee guide. At The Online GP by The Wellness, a 15-minute telephone consultation starts from £59 and a 30-minute video consultation from £150.
Same-day urgent appointments start from £220. Prescriptions, fit notes and referrals are issued where clinically appropriate.
Can a doctor tell me which appointment I need?
Yes. The Online GP by The Wellness offers a free suitability review. Send a short description of your symptoms on WhatsApp. A doctor tells you whether a phone call, a video consultation or an in-person visit suits you, or tells you plainly if self-care is enough.
Start your free suitability review on WhatsApp.
Frequently asked questions
Can a GP diagnose me over the phone?
Yes. Many common conditions can be diagnosed from a careful history alone. If the doctor needs to examine you, they will arrange a video or in-person appointment.
Can I get antibiotics from a phone GP appointment?
A GP can prescribe antibiotics after a phone or video consultation when a bacterial infection is likely and the assessment is adequate. Many infections are viral and do not need antibiotics.
Can I get a fit note from a video consultation?
Yes. A GP can assess your fitness for work by phone or video and issue a fit note where clinically appropriate. Fit notes at The Online GP by The Wellness cost from £100.
Do I need to be registered with The Online GP to book?
No. You can book a one-off phone or video consultation without registering. Your summary can be shared with your own GP.
Can I have a video appointment on my phone?
Yes. Video consultations work on a smartphone, tablet or computer with a camera and a stable internet connection.
Sources
- Digital Health, A third of GP appointments in England carried out remotely, August 2025
- HTN, Increase in online and video GP appointments, June 2026
- High level principles for good practice in remote consultations and prescribing, UK healthcare regulators
- MMS Clinic, Private GP consultation fees UK 2026 cost guide