Shanti Medical Centre

Online consultation is a way to contact your GP surgery through the internet.

You can get advice and information, arrange an appointment or order a prescription without having to wait on the phone or come into the surgery for non-urgent requests.

You can use online consultation on any digital device, such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer. You can access it from our practice website page or through a medical app you download to your device.

Online consultation is a modern and effective way to get the healthcare you need faster, quicker, easier and more conveniently – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Please read this information, but if you are still having problems with online consultation, please ring our admin team on 01204 665354 after 10am from Monday to Friday and they will help you.

Our practice uses Egton’s Online Consult system and to start using it see the online form on this page and click on ‘Learn more’. Then fill in the window underneath “Contact your doctor online and get health advice” with a symptom or a request.

With Online Consult you can find out about most common health problems, see information leaflets, check your symptoms, request administrative tasks (like letters, sick notes and test results). You will see general NHS-approved health advice for the condition you are concerned about so you can look after yourself at home. You can also get advice from a pharmacy.

You can also ask for an appointment from one of our clinicians by filling out an online form. The doctor or other clinician may want to see you on a video call. You will be offered a face-to-face appointment if you need one after being triaged by a GP.

To contact our practice about your problem, you need to be a patient at our surgery living in the UK. In the Online Consult form, enter your main symptom under ‘Contact your doctor and get health advice’ and read the conditions and click on the tick boxes if applicable.

Click through the forms, read the information and answer the questions. Please answer the questions accurately so we can find the best way to help you. Read any advice and then fill in the details of what you want from us and when you are available for a telephone consultation with a doctor or other clinician.

You will get a response from our surgery by the end of the next working day (or earlier) by phone call, text message or email.

For a video about how our online consultation works through Online Consult, click here.

PATIENT ACCESS APP

As well as using online consultation through the digital form on our practice web page, you can use the Patient Access App on your device, including a phone or tablet.

You can download the app is available free on iOS (for Apple iPhones and iPads) and on Android (Google Play Store). To use it you must be aged 12 and over and registered with our GP surgery.

After you download the app, you will need to register with your personal details to access information and connect to the surgery. For your security, you will need to create a five digit PIN number or you can log on with fingerprint detection or facial recognition if your device supports it.

You can also access the Patient Access app services from the browser on your desktop or laptop computer by clicking here.

The following services are available to all registered patients:

• GP appointments from home
• Book/cancel appointments
• Order repeat prescriptions
• Message our practice
• View medical records
• Update address details

If you have any issues downloading or using the Patient Access app, you can get help by clicking here. 

Here are a series of videos to help you register on the app, book or cancel and appointment, or request repeat medication. Just click on the one you want to watch:

• Register with a letter
• Register without a letter
• Sign in for the first time
• Book an appointment
• Cancel appointment
• Request repeat medication

Remember, online consultations give you a quick, convenient and secure alternative to visiting or phoning your GP surgery. They:

• Save you time: You don’t have to travel to the surgery and wait for an appointment or wait in a busy telephone queue.
• Are private: If you find it difficult talking things over face-to-face, an online consultation might be easier. It also means that you are in control and don’t have to tell anyone else where you’re going or ask someone to make an appointment for you.
• Are safe and secure: Your online consultation and data are safe and secure. It will only be seen by staff that need it to help you.

Online consultations are not an emergency service. If it is a medical emergency, call 999. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. If you are worried about an urgent medical concern, visit www.111.nhs.uk or call 111 to speak to a fully trained adviser.

You can find out more information from the NHS about getting help at home through by clicking here.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What happens if I have more than one issue? Please submit one online form per problem. This will allow us to gather more accurate information to help you.

When will I get a response back? The clinician will review your response and get back to you within two working days. We will contact you by phone, text or by email.

What about people without the internet? They may be able to use a relative’s internet, otherwise they can call the surgery as usual on the practice telephone number.

What about my child? Parents or carers can submit an online form on behalf of their children if they are over 6 months old. For children younger than 6 months, please phone the surgery.

How old do I need to be to use online consultation? You can submit your own online form once you are 16 years old.

What if you want a face-to-face appointment? Your online consultation form will be reviewed by a GP or other clinician and if you need to be seen for a face-to-face appointment, you will be advised of this.

What happens if my condition is not listed on the Online Consult website? If your condition is not listed, please click on ‘General health query’

I completed an online form, but I have not heard back from the practice. What should I do? This should not happen. However, if it does and you have not heard back from the practice by the end of the next working day, please contact the surgery by phone and we will deal with this promptly.

I have an administrative request. How do I send it to you? You can submit admin requests such as asking for a fit note (sick note) by going through the online consultation form and search for ‘General administrative query’.

If you want to join our PPG, please ask reception for more information.