Online GP Birmingham: What Can Be Treated During a Video Consultation?

Written By Dr Bavna Kallan

Imagine you have (rather unfortunately) developed a new symptom during a busy working day. Maybe you also need to discuss medication, review some blood-test results or want to ask whether a problem actually requires an examination. For many non-emergency health concerns, an online GP consultation can provide a convenient first step.

A video appointment works much like an ordinary GP consultation. You explain what has been happening, your doctor asks questions about your symptoms and medical history, and together you decide what should happen next.

The important difference is that your GP cannot physically examine you through a screen.

The General Medical Council supports remote consultations where they allow doctors to provide safe and effective care. However, if a doctor cannot gather enough information or needs to physically examine the patient, the consultation should move to an appropriate face-to-face setting.

At Complete Clinical Care in Birmingham, you can book a 15-minute private video GP consultation with us for £49. Online GP appointments are available Monday to Saturday, giving patients a convenient way to discuss new or existing health concerns without travelling to our Edgbaston clinic.

So what can actually be treated during an online GP appointment — and when should you book an in-person consultation instead?

Key Takeaways

  • Many non-emergency health concerns can initially be discussed during an online GP appointment.

  • Video consultations can be useful for new symptoms, medication questions, follow-ups, mental-health concerns and reviewing test results.

  • A private GP may be able to issue prescriptions or arrange referrals remotely when it is clinically safe to do so.

  • Blood tests and other investigations can be organised after an online consultation where appropriate.

  • Some symptoms require a physical examination and cannot be safely diagnosed through video alone.

  • Online GP appointments should not be used for life-threatening emergencies.

  • A doctor may ask you to attend an in-person appointment if the video consultation does not provide enough information.

What Is an Online GP Consultation?

An online GP consultation is a medical appointment carried out remotely, usually through video. Instead of travelling to the clinic, you speak directly with a doctor using your phone, tablet or computer.

The NHS describes a video consultation as being very similar to a face-to-face appointment. Your doctor asks questions about your health, discusses possible treatment and can arrange prescriptions or referrals where appropriate.

During the appointment, your doctor may ask about:

  • Your current symptoms

  • When the problem began

  • How the symptoms have changed

  • Previous medical conditions

  • Medication

  • Allergies

  • Recent treatment

  • Relevant lifestyle factors

  • Previous blood tests or investigations

Depending on the problem, the doctor may also ask you to show something using your camera. For example, certain visible skin concerns may sometimes be assessed using video or photographs where this provides clinically useful information.

However, remote visual assessments have limits. The GMC states that photographs and video can support clinical decision-making where appropriate, but doctors should move to a face-to-face assessment if the condition cannot be safely assessed remotely.

What Can an Online GP Treat?

There is no single list of conditions that must always be treated online or always be treated face to face, a video consultation is appropriate as long as the doctor can safely understand what is happening without a physical examination.

They are useful for concerns such as:

  • New symptoms that do not appear to require emergency treatment

  • Minor illnesses

  • Medication questions

  • Follow-up appointments

  • Blood-test result reviews

  • Mental-health concerns

  • Stress and burnout

  • Women's health discussions

  • Men's health discussions

  • Hormone concerns

  • Lifestyle and preventative-health advice

  • Second opinions

  • Sick-note requests

  • Specialist-referral discussions

  • Deciding which blood tests may be appropriate

If a symptom or test result requires physical examination after a review during a video consultation, the doctor will inform you of this and advise an in person appointment. 

Minor Illnesses and New Symptoms

Many patients book an online GP because they have recently developed a symptom and want medical advice quickly. Depending on the individual circumstances, a doctor may be able to assess some concerns remotely.

The consultation might involve symptoms such as:

  • Mild respiratory symptoms

  • Headaches

  • Digestive symptoms

  • Skin concerns

  • Minor infections

  • Mild urinary symptoms

  • Allergies

  • Sleep problems

  • Fatigue

  • General health concerns

Whether treatment can be provided remotely depends on what the doctor learns during the consultation.

Medication Reviews and Private Prescriptions

Medication questions can often be well suited to a video consultation.

You may want to discuss:

  • Side effects

  • Whether a medication is working

  • A recent prescription

  • Changes in symptoms since starting treatment

  • Whether treatment should continue

  • An existing long-term medication

  • A possible medication interaction

A private GP may also be able to issue a private prescription during an online consultation where it is clinically appropriate.

Our virtual GP consultations specifically includes advice, prescriptions and referrals where clinically suitable.

However, seeing a doctor online does not guarantee that medication will be prescribed.

The GMC requires doctors to have enough reliable information about the patient's health before prescribing. If the clinician cannot safely assess you through the chosen consultation method, they should not prescribe simply because the consultation has taken place.

Why Your Medication List Matters

If you are consulting a doctor who has not previously treated you, it can be useful to have your current medication ready.

Include:

  • Prescription medicines

  • Over-the-counter medicines

  • Vitamins

  • Supplements

  • Herbal treatments

Your doctor may also ask about allergies and previous reactions to medication.

This helps reduce the risk of unsafe interactions.

Mental Health, Stress and Burnout

Mental-health concerns can often be discussed remotely and may even provide a benefit to the patient as they can talk about their symptoms and experiences in their home environment rather than a sterile clinical room.

You might book an online GP because you have been experiencing:

  • Persistent stress

  • Low mood

  • Anxiety

  • Poor sleep

  • Reduced motivation

  • Burnout symptoms

  • Difficulty concentrating

  • Changes in appetite

  • Problems coping with work or everyday life

A GP can listen to what has been happening and consider whether further assessment or support is appropriate. In some cases physical health also needs investigating but an online consultation can therefore act as a useful starting point.

Blood Tests and Results Reviews

Complete Clinical Care's personalised blood-testing pathway begins with a video consultation. During this appointment, the clinician can discuss your symptoms, concerns, medical history and health goals before deciding which tests may be useful. You can then attend for the physical blood draw separately.

What Might Be Discussed?

For persistent tiredness, for example, the clinician might consider whether testing areas such as:

  • Full blood count

  • Ferritin and iron

  • Thyroid function

  • Vitamin B12

  • Folate

  • Vitamin D

  • Blood glucose or HbA1c

could be appropriate.

Reviewing Existing Results

Video consultations are also useful when you already have results.

Your doctor can discuss:

  • What each marker measures

  • Whether anything is outside the laboratory range

  • Whether an abnormality is significant

  • Whether a test needs repeating

  • Whether further investigation is appropriate

  • What the next clinical step should be

A laboratory report gives you numbers.

A clinical consultation helps explain what those numbers mean in the context of your health.

Sick Notes and Specialist Referrals

An online GP appointment may also be useful when the main reason for consulting is administrative but still requires medical assessment.

Examples include:

  • Discussing whether you are medically fit for work

  • Requesting a medical certificate where appropriate

  • Reviewing a condition that may require specialist care

  • Seeking a second opinion

  • Discussing whether imaging or further investigation is needed

Here at Complete Clinical Care we can provide private prescriptions and referrals to private or NHS specialist services where appropriate.

When Is a Video Consultation Not Appropriate?

When a Physical Examination Is Needed

Your doctor may recommend an in-person consultation if they need to:

  • Listen to your heart or lungs

  • Examine your abdomen

  • Look inside your ears

  • Examine your throat more closely

  • Assess a joint

  • Check swelling

  • Perform an intimate examination

  • Carry out neurological testing

  • Measure observations that cannot reliably be obtained remotely

The GMC specifically states that face-to-face assessment may be more appropriate when a physical examination or another assessment is required before safe treatment can be provided.

Emergencies

An online private GP should not replace emergency care.

Do not wait for a routine video appointment if you believe you may be experiencing a life-threatening medical emergency.

Examples include:

  • Severe difficulty breathing

  • Symptoms of a stroke

  • Severe or persistent chest pain

  • Severe uncontrolled bleeding

  • Loss of consciousness

  • Serious injury

  • Severe allergic reaction

  • Other immediately life-threatening symptoms

Online GP services do not replace emergency services and  we advise patients with urgent life-threatening conditions or symptoms to call 999 or attend A&E.

What Happens During an Online GP Appointment?

Step 1: Book Your Appointment

You choose an available video consultation.

At Complete Clinical Care, our online GP consultations are £49 and can be done at any time during the day (subject to availability).

Step 2: Find Somewhere Private

Before your appointment, choose somewhere:

  • Quiet

  • Well lit

  • Private

  • With a reliable internet connection

Make sure your camera and microphone work. The NHS recommends using a private, well-lit environment where you and the clinician can communicate clearly.

Step 3: Explain What Has Been Happening

Your doctor will ask what prompted the appointment.

Try to explain:

  • The main problem

  • When it started

  • Whether it is changing

  • What makes it better or worse

  • Any related symptoms

  • What treatment you have already tried

Step 4: Review Your Medical History

The doctor may ask about:

  • Existing medical conditions

  • Medication

  • Allergies

  • Previous investigations

  • Family history

  • Lifestyle factors

Step 5: Decide What Happens Next

The outcome might be:

  • Advice and reassurance

  • A private prescription

  • Monitoring your symptoms

  • Blood testing

  • A sick note

  • Specialist referral

  • A face-to-face GP appointment

  • Another type of investigation

  • Advice to seek urgent care

Clinicians can provide advice, prescribe where appropriate and make referrals during video consultations in much the same way as they can during face-to-face care.

Online GP vs Face-to-Face GP: Which Should You Choose?

An Online GP May Be Better When:

  • You want quick advice about a non-emergency concern

  • You cannot easily travel to the clinic

  • You need a medication review

  • You want to discuss blood-test results

  • You need a follow-up

  • You want to discuss mental-health symptoms

  • You need help deciding which test or service is appropriate

  • You want an initial discussion about men's or women's health

  • You are seeking a referral or clinical advice

Face-to-Face May Be Better When:

  • You know you need a physical examination

  • You have significant abdominal pain

  • Your heart or lungs need examining

  • You have joint or musculoskeletal symptoms requiring examination

  • You need an intimate examination

  • Your doctor needs physical observations or tests

  • The diagnosis cannot safely be made remotely

We would recommend contacting the clinic to advise on what type of appointment would be best for you.

Online GP Appointments at Complete Clinical Care

Here at Complete Clinical Care, our private GP practice is based in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

Alongside our face-to-face clinic, we operate an online GP clinic Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm.

Virtual GP Consultation — £49

The current service includes a:

15-minute private video GP consultation — £49

The appointment can be used to:

  • Discuss a new health concern

  • Review an existing concern

  • Obtain medical advice

  • Discuss medication

  • Receive a private prescription where clinically appropriate

  • Discuss specialist referral

  • Decide whether an in-person appointment is required

There is no requirement to register with Complete Clinical Care as your permanent GP before booking a one-off private appointment.

What If You Need an Examination?

If the doctor decides that your symptoms cannot be safely assessed by video, you may be advised to book a face-to-face appointment.

CCC's in-person clinic is based at:

38 Harborne Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 3EB

The practice currently offers 30-minute in-person private GP consultations for £99.

What If You Need Blood Tests?

Blood testing can be arranged separately where appropriate.

At Complete Clinical Care, we use video consultations as the first stage of its personalised blood-testing service, allowing the clinician and patient to establish what they are trying to investigate before a blood sample is taken.

What If You Need a Specialist?

If your doctor believes specialist assessment would be appropriate, a referral can be arranged.

That means your online GP appointment can act as the first step in a wider diagnostic pathway rather than simply providing one-off advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is an online GP appointment in Birmingham?

We currently charge £49 for a 15-minute private video GP consultation. Prices may change, so current fees should always be checked at the time of booking.

What can an online GP treat?

A private online GP can assess many non-emergency health concerns where a physical examination is not immediately required. This may include general health concerns, minor illnesses, medication questions, mental-health support, follow-ups and some women's or men's health concerns. Whether treatment can safely be provided remotely depends on your individual symptoms.

Can an online GP give me a prescription?

Yes, a doctor may issue a private prescription following a video consultation when they have enough information to determine that prescribing is clinically appropriate and safe.

Can an online GP refer me to a specialist?

Yes. A GP can arrange a specialist referral after a video consultation where the information available is sufficient to make the referral appropriately. Complete Clinical Care can provide referrals to private or NHS specialists, although NHS services determine whether an individual referral is accepted.

Can I get a sick note from an online GP?

A private GP may be able to provide appropriate medical documentation following a remote clinical assessment when the doctor has enough information to make that judgement safely.

Can an online GP arrange a blood test?

Yes. Blood testing can be recommended following an online consultation. Our personalised blood-test pathway at Complete Clinical Care actually begins with a video consultation to discuss symptoms and determine which biomarkers may be appropriate before the blood-draw appointment.

Can skin problems be assessed by video?

Some visible skin concerns can potentially be assessed using video or clinical images. However, the GMC advises that images should only be requested when they genuinely support clinical decision-making, and a face-to-face examination should be arranged when remote assessment is inadequate.

Can an online GP diagnose abdominal pain?

An online GP can discuss abdominal symptoms and assess the history, but abdominal pain frequently requires physical examination. Your doctor may therefore recommend a face-to-face assessment or more urgent care depending on the symptoms.

Are video GP appointments confidential?

Remote consultations are subject to the same professional expectations around safe care, consent and confidentiality as face-to-face medical appointments.

What do I need for a video GP appointment?

You will usually need a smartphone, tablet or computer with a camera and microphone, an internet connection and a quiet, private, well-lit space. It can also help to have your medication list and any relevant test results available.

What happens if the doctor cannot diagnose me online?

You may be asked to attend an in-person appointment, have blood tests, undergo another investigation or see a specialist. Moving from video to face-to-face care when examination is needed is part of safe remote medical practice.

Can I use an online GP for an emergency?

No. A private online GP service does not replace emergency care. For life-threatening symptoms, call 999 or attend A&E rather than waiting for a video consultation.

When is Complete Clinical Care's online clinic open?

Our online clinic operates Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm.

Dr Bavna Kallan
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