While telemedicine existed before the pandemic, the past two years have made it commonplace to see your doctor on a computer screen. A GP online consultation is a good way to see your doctor and get answers about your health without the risks of going to a clinic.


There are quite a lot of benefits to having an online appointment with your doctor. In many cases, you can do the checks yourself, using a thermometer and checking your own pulse rate. If you do need more advanced medical care, the doctor will direct you to either visit the hospital or to come into the medical clinic. However, you can receive prescriptions and exam orders from an online consultation, so in many cases, it’s not necessary to see the doctor in person.


Benefits of a GP Consultation Online

Some of these benefits are more obvious than others, but overall, the ability to talk to your doctor online has created a better opportunity for many people to get medical care.


Other benefits include:

 

See a Doctor Sooner

With no waiting room, it’s easier for the GP to keep appointments short and to the point. When you go into the office, you expect a certain amount of time spent with the doctor. After all, you’ve invested time and energy to travel there and more time while you waited in the waiting room. With the ability to simply call your doctor over a video call, it becomes possible to have short appointments that are just as thorough.


There is also no delay while you wait for your doctor or nurse to prepare the exam room. Instead, the doctor is free to move on to the next appointment, which means you will often get to see local doctors much faster than if you were to go to their office.


Stay in the Comfort of Your Own Home

Many people prefer to stay home, particularly at the moment. It’s safer and you don’t have to get dressed up to leave the house. For anyone who dislikes going out, a doctor’s appointment at home is the perfect alternative to going to the clinic.


Talk to Your Doctor While Travelling

Another huge benefit of talking to local doctors online is that you can be travelling and still enjoy clinical services via video chat. If you suddenly fall ill while visiting your family, the doctor can be seen online from anywhere. This also means you can continue to monitor existing health conditions while you travel, as long as you don’t need any physical clinical services.


It’s Easier to Book an Online GP Consultation

Trying to get a physical GP appointment can take a long time. There may not be any openings when you are available, or you’ll find that there are no appointments for the next few weeks. Online GP consultations tend to be much more efficient. In most cases, you can book an appointment for the same day and still find a doctor who is able to see you. The ease and convenience make this method of medical consultation very popular.


Have a GP Consultation from Work

There’s no need to take a day off work just to see a doctor. If you have a health issue that is non-contagious or if you are simply seeing the doctor to monitor an ongoing health problem, you can do this anywhere. Rather than take an entire day away from work, you can schedule a break to see the doctor from your office. It’s a far more efficient method of seeking medical health.


Get Refill Prescriptions Without Going to a Clinic

If you take medication that you need to see a doctor for on an ongoing basis, it can be frustrating to go into an appointment just for a prescription. However, with online medicine, you can speak with the doctor and get your prescription without leaving your home. You can even have your appointment while you sit in your vehicle outside the pharmacy.


Avoid Crowded Waiting Rooms

Anyone can tell you that a doctor’s waiting room is a petri dish of germs and viruses. If the past two years have taught you anything, it’s that you should avoid enclosed spaces with people who are ill. The waiting room is a good place to pick up more health problems, so if you can possibly avoid it, you should.


When you have a GP consultation in your living room, there’s no issue with germs or being in contact with other people. It’s all safe and comfortable.


Who Can Use Telemedicine Appointments?

Anyone who is from the UK can use the NHS GP online consultation service. However, it’s not appropriate for emergencies or any medical situation where you will definitely need face-to-face aid. For example, if you have broken your arm, you will need to see a doctor in person to cast it. If you are bleeding or injured, it’s important that you go straight to the hospital. The online options are not for emergencies and it’s better to get straight to the hospital where they can begin to help you immediately.


Common reasons to use an online GP appointment include:


You feel ill. If you’re experiencing stomach pain, sore throat, diarrhoea, constipation, or vomiting, etc. you may want to speak with a doctor about how to treat it. The doctor will also assess you for dehydration and will let you know when it is necessary to have exams done or when to go to the hospital.


You need a refill on a prescription. Most prescriptions require the doctor to see you before giving you another script. Online is a completely acceptable way to fulfil this requirement.


You have a rash or other skin condition. You can talk to a dermatologist when you’re registered with the NHS and this can help you determine what the issue is. The dermatologist may prescribe medication to help or can give you tips on the best way to heal your skin.


You need a sick note. You may need to have a note from a doctor in order to stay home while you are ill, skipping work or school. This is easily done online.


There are many other reasons you may wish to have an online video consultation with a doctor, but rest assured it’s all acceptable. The doctors are there to help you and will give you the best possible attention. It may not be exactly the same as going to the office, but you skip the traffic and get a faster response, so it’s a win-win situation.


What to Expect From Your Online Consultation

Before your appointment, you should make a list of your symptoms and keep track of any medications you’re taking. This will be necessary in order to relay the information to the doctor. Once you have registered online, you can make your appointment. Your doctor will talk to you via a video chat and assess your condition, based on your own information. For example, you may need to take your temperature or check your pulse, while the doctor supervises.


With the basics out of the way, the doctor will talk to you about your symptoms and the severity of your condition. They can assess you through the video and how you speak, to determine if you should be referred to a specialist or to a hospital. You may be asked to send photos of any rashes or marks on your body, as well, to aid in diagnosis.


The doctor will determine what the issue is and let you know the appropriate treatment. If this includes medication, the doctor will write a prescription for you and you can then either order it from your local drugstore or go and pick it up. The entire process is easy and stress-free, but you’ll have some answers after the call is over. If the health issue persists, you can simply schedule another appointment. Be sure to track what you have done so the doctor can discuss alternatives if you know what doesn’t work.


Overall, telehealth is a remarkable advancement in healthcare options. It allows more people to reach doctors than ever before and even helps those who would never leave their homes to see a doctor. The ease of making an appointment allows you to consult with a doctor at the last minute, so you don’t need to deal with the symptoms longer than necessary just because you can’t get an appointment.


If you haven’t signed up for NHS services yet, you should certainly do so. It could change the way you manage your own health, as well as that of your family. Download the app and make your first appointment today.

How to Tell if You Have Diabetes

by Jahan Mahmoodi • 28 September 2022
Diabetes isn’t an uncommon illness, but it can be serious and result in your having to change your lifestyle. There are two different kinds of diabetes, and the main difference between them is that type 1 is genetic, whereas type 2 diabetes can be down to your lifestyle and will develop over time, rather than showing up in an earlier stage of your life. It is important to know what the symptoms of diabetes are so that you can address the problem sooner rather than later, so below are some of the key things to look out for and when you should see a doctor. What are the Symptoms? If you want to know how to tell if you have diabetes, these are common indicators that you might have developed this problem. The need to urinate frequently, or feeling thirsty and/or hungry a lot. You might also notice that you experience extreme fatigue, weight loss, tingling sensation, or pain in your hands and feet. Cuts and bruises might also take longer to heal than they have done in the past. Some people might also experience blurred vision or find that they are getting thrush in the genital area repeatedly. You may want to refer to a self help service to check symptoms if you are concerned. What Should You Do? If you are concerned that you have diabetes, the first thing to do is make an appointment with your doctor. They can arrange a blood test to check your blood sugar levels, as this can be a great indicator of whether or not you have diabetes and can be one of the first warning signs. High blood sugar can be treated with lifestyle changes, and you may need to take insulin at times too. Your doctor can talk you through how to manage your diabetes more effectively, or look at NHS GP for more information. They may even refer you to specialist centers for disease control for further support and guidance. Who is at a Higher Risk? If you do have a history of type 1 diabetes in your family, then you are more likely to develop this condition, too. However, for type 2 diabetes, those at a higher risk include people who have a diet that is high in fats and sugars and are overweight. Your risk also increases the older you get, with a lot of people developing this when they are over 40. This is why it is important to monitor high levels of blood sugar and get this tested if you are concerned. Lifestyle Changes for Diabetics If you do have type 2 diabetes, there are some things you can do at home to help this. The first step is to look at moving to a healthier lifestyle and eating a more balanced diet with reduced sugar. Remember to be careful with carbs, too, as these can turn into sugar in your body. You might also want to think about getting more exercise to help you lose weight which can be beneficial.  If you are worried about whether or not you have developed diabetes, contact your doctor as soon as possible to take the necessary tests.

What Are the Symptoms of PTSD?

by Jahan Mahmoodi • 25 August 2022
What is PTSD? Learn about the symptoms of PTSD and what to do if you think you or a loved one has this psychiatric disorder. PTSD, which stands for post-traumatic stress disorder, is a psychiatric disorder that occurs after a traumatic event or prolonged trauma over time. Historically, it became known as “shell shock”, which many soldiers experienced after combat in the world wars. However, any kind of trauma can lead to this disorder, such as: Accidents Assault Abuse Illness or injury (either yourself or a loved one) The death of a loved one Going through these experiences does not being you will definitely experience PTSD. A traumatic event or prolonged trauma might trigger the disorder in one person and not another, and it has not been determined exactly why. One suggestion is that those suffering from PTSD have high-stress hormone levels, though this isn’t always the case. If you think you or a loved one might have PTSD, it’s crucial to understand the symptoms and seek medical help to process the memories and reduce symptoms over time. Below are the most common symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder PTSD. Flashbacks of Trauma After experiencing a traumatic event, many people feel sad, scared, and anxious, and these symptoms tend to improve naturally over a few weeks. In people with PTSD, these symptoms last far longer and can produce one of the most common symptoms associated with post traumatic stress disorder: flashbacks. Flashbacks make a person with PTSD experience the traumatic event over and over again in their mind. Often, the flashback is very vivid and causes high levels of panic and anxiety, and can even become debilitating in severe cases. Frequent Nightmares People with PTSD usually experience frequent nightmares, often of the traumatic event or events that they have been through. These nightmares cause elevated stress levels and can lead to further issues, like sleeping difficulties and insomnia. Extreme Anxiety Anxiety is a symptom of multiple mental health issues, including PTSD. After experiencing trauma, a person with PTSD will often feel extreme anxiety in their day-to-day life. They Avoidance It is common for people living with PTSD to avoid anything associated with the traumatic event they experienced, which often includes people, places or activities. It is common for sufferers to even withdraw from their friends and family. Over time, this can make their symptoms even worse as they continue to isolate themselves. Intrusive Thoughts Intrusive thoughts involve upsetting and confusing thoughts that those with PTSD wish would disappear. Typically, these thoughts lead to feelings of guilt and upset. Without treatment, these intrusive thoughts are difficult to manage and might worsen over time in some cases. Irritability or Anger Many people with PTSD become irritable or angry, which can lead to reckless behaviour. This behaviour might cause them to damage their relationships. Extreme anger may also be a sign of complex PTSD, which is caused by long-term trauma rather than a single event. PTSD in Children Children can get PTSD just like adults. The symptoms may look different, though. If you suspect your child has PTSD, here are the signs to look out for: Reliving the traumatic event Angry outbursts Nightmares Fear and/or sadness Seek Help for PTSD When experiencing symptoms like this, it’s important to see mental health specialists in order to determine the cause. Then, these mental health professionals can provide appropriate treatment to help the patient manage and improve their symptoms over time, whether through therapy or medication, or a combination of both. If you think you or your loved one is experiencing PTSD, book an appointment with your NHS GP as soon as possible. Help is available, and nobody has to carry on suffering with their symptoms.

How to Improve Student Mental Health

by Jahan Mahmoodi • 18 August 2022
Student life can be rough. If you feel as though your mental health is beginning to suffer as a result, here are some tips that may be able to help.