Booking to see a doctor no longer has to mean taking half a day off work, arranging childcare or sitting in a waiting room with a runny nose. Telehealth, in the form of an online GP appointment by secure video call, is now a routine part of primary care rather than a pandemic-era stopgap, and at Friends Medical Service it sits alongside our usual face-to-face service as a genuine, same-day alternative.
Whether you are in Lurgan, Craigavon, Belfast, Lisburn, Portadown, Banbridge, Armagh or across the border in the Republic of Ireland, an online GP appointment puts a private GP in front of you from wherever you happen to be. This guide explains what telehealth actually involves, when an online GP appointment is the right choice, when you should book face-to-face instead and exactly how to arrange either one with our team.
What Is Telehealth and How Does an Online GP Appointment Work?
Telehealth is the use of secure video or phone technology to deliver medical care remotely, without the patient and clinician being in the same room. In practice, for most people this means an online GP appointment: a private, one-to-one video consultation with a GP, conducted through a secure booking and video platform rather than in a clinic room.
At Friends Medical Service, our GP Appointment service offers exactly this. Once you book an Online Video GP Consultation, you’re sent a secure link for your appointment time. At the agreed time, you join the call from your phone, tablet or computer, and your GP talks through your symptoms or concern in much the same way they would in person. Depending on what’s discussed, the GP can offer advice, issue a private prescription, request blood tests or imaging, write a referral letter or recommend that you come in for a face-to-face appointment if something needs a hands-on examination.
It’s a genuine clinical consultation, not a symptom checker or chatbot. You’re speaking directly with a GP who can access your notes, discuss your history and make the same clinical decisions they would make in the room with you.
When an Online GP Appointment Is the Right Choice
Telehealth suits a wide range of everyday healthcare needs. An online GP appointment is generally a good fit when you need:
- General health advice or a discussion about symptoms that don’t require a physical examination
- A review of an ongoing health concern, such as anxiety, blood pressure, digestive issues or sleep problems
- A follow-up appointment after a previous consultation, test or referral
- A repeat or new private prescription
- A referral letter to a specialist service
- Advice on a condition you’d rather not discuss in a busy waiting room
Because there’s no travel involved, an online GP appointment is particularly useful if you’re managing childcare or work around the appointment, if you’re some distance from our Lurgan clinic or if you’re a cross-border patient joining us from the Republic of Ireland.
When You Should Book a Face-to-Face Appointment Instead
Telehealth isn’t the right fit for every situation, and a good GP service will tell you that plainly rather than trying to squeeze everything into a video call. You should book a face-to-face GP appointment rather than an online one if you need:
- A physical examination, such as an abdominal, chest, neurological or reflex check
- A procedure, for example ear wax removal, a wound swab or an injection
- A lymph node or lump to be physically felt or palpated
- Assessment of a possible fracture or a recent acute physical injury
If any of the above applies, book straight into a face-to-face GP consultation rather than an online one, and our team can advise if you’re unsure which is the better fit for your situation.
When to Skip Both and Call 999
Telehealth and routine GP appointments, whether online or in person, are not appropriate for a medical emergency. Call 999 immediately, rather than booking any GP appointment, if you or someone with you has any of the following:
- Chest pain or suspected heart symptoms
- Severe difficulty breathing
- Signs of a stroke, such as facial drooping, arm weakness or slurred speech
- A collapse, loss of consciousness or a seizure
- Severe bleeding that won’t stop
- Suicidal intent or immediate risk of harm to yourself or others
- A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
The NHS guidance on when to call 999 sets out the full list of emergencies in more detail.
Choosing the Right Appointment Length
Whether you book online or face-to-face, choosing the right appointment length helps your GP give your concern the time it needs. As a general guide:
- 15 minutes: a single, straightforward issue, such as a cold, a UTI, hay fever, an ear or eye infection, a fit note or a referral letter
- 30 minutes: two concerns at once, or an ongoing condition such as fatigue, anxiety, a blood test review, blood pressure, digestive issues, sleep problems or migraine
- 45 minutes: a complex or chronic concern, such as an initial mental health assessment, menopause, an ADHD query, long COVID, a diabetes review or three or more issues to discuss
A short slot booked for a complex concern tends to leave both you and your GP feeling rushed, so it’s worth erring on the longer side if you’re not sure.
Benefits of Telehealth and Online GP Appointments
There’s a reason online GP appointments have become such a popular way to access primary care. The main benefits include:
- Convenience. No travel, no time off work, no childcare to arrange around a clinic visit.
- Faster access. Same-day and fast appointment availability means you’re often seen sooner than you would be waiting for a slot to open in person.
- Continuity of care. You can see the same GP who already knows your history, rather than starting from scratch each time.
- Wider geographic reach. Patients across Craigavon, Belfast, Lisburn, Portadown, Banbridge, Armagh and cross-border patients from the Republic of Ireland can access the same GP team without travelling to our Lurgan clinic.
- Privacy. Some people find it easier to discuss sensitive symptoms, such as mental health or sexual health concerns, from home rather than in a waiting room.
- A genuine clinical pathway, not a dead end. Your GP can move straight from a video consultation into a referral, a prescription or a request for tests, exactly as they would in person.
Pricing: Online, Face-to-Face and Subscription Options
Pricing at Friends Medical Service is straightforward and confirmed at the time of booking. Current GP appointment pricing is set out below.
| Appointment Type | Price | Best Suited To |
|---|---|---|
| Online Video GP Consultation | From £55 | General advice, ongoing reviews, follow-ups, symptoms not needing a physical exam |
| Face to Face GP Consultation | From £70 | Physical examinations, procedures, hands-on assessment |
| Initial Mental Health GP Appointment | From £100 | A first mental health assessment (minimum 30 minutes recommended) |
| GP Subscription | From £29.99/month | Ongoing GP access, online and face-to-face, for individuals and families |
For patients who see a GP regularly, our GP Subscription plans build telehealth in as standard. The Care For Me plan, from £29.99 a month, includes 12 GP appointments a year (online and face-to-face combined), a 10% discount on blood tests and no phlebotomy charges. Family plans extend the same online and face-to-face access to two adults and children, with higher-tier plans adding an annual full health check and physical examination. Because online and face-to-face appointments draw from the same allowance, subscribers can pick whichever suits a given concern without paying separately each time.
Online GP Appointments vs Face-to-Face: At a Glance
| Online GP Appointment | Face-to-Face GP Appointment | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Anywhere with a private space and an internet connection | Our Lurgan clinic |
| Best for | Advice, reviews, follow-ups, prescriptions, referrals | Physical exams, procedures, injury or lump assessment |
| Travel needed | None | Yes |
| Starting price | From £55 | From £70 |
| Same-day availability | Yes | Yes |
| Prescriptions and referrals | Yes | Yes |
How to Book an Online GP Appointment
Booking a telehealth appointment with us takes a few minutes:
- Choose your appointment type and length. Decide whether an online or face-to-face appointment fits your concern and pick 15, 30 or 45 minutes based on what you need to discuss.
- Book online or get in touch. Use our GP Appointment page to book directly, or reach our team through our Contact page if you’d rather arrange your appointment by phone.
- Receive your appointment confirmation. You’ll receive confirmation of your appointment time and, for a video consultation, details of how to join the call.
- Join your video call from a private space. A quiet, well-lit spot with a stable internet connection is all you need; most smartphones, tablets and laptops with a camera and microphone will work.
- Discuss next steps with your GP. Depending on your appointment, this might include a private prescription, a referral, a request for blood tests or advice on managing your symptoms.
If you’re ever unsure whether your concern is suited to a video call, our team can advise before you book and can move you to a face-to-face slot if that turns out to be the better option.
Continuity of Care with Our GP Team
One of the advantages of telehealth done properly is that it doesn’t have to mean seeing a different doctor every time. Several of our GPs, including Dr Abdel Nasir Nour, offer telemedicine appointments alongside face-to-face clinics, so patients booking online can still build an ongoing relationship with a doctor who knows their history. You can view our full GP team, along with their availability for telemedicine and same-day appointments, on our consultants page.
Telehealth also works well alongside other services. A GP appointment, whether online or in person, is included as standard with our blood testing and health checks, and many patients use an online GP appointment to review results once tests are complete. For ongoing mental health support, our GP team can also assess, treat and refer where needed; our guide to mental health and primary care covers what to expect from that kind of appointment in more depth, and our counselling service is available where talking therapy is the better next step.
Telehealth for Patients Across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
Because an online GP appointment doesn’t depend on being near a particular clinic, it’s especially useful if you live further from Lurgan or outside Northern Ireland altogether. Patients in Belfast, Lisburn, Portadown, Banbridge and Armagh can see the same GP team without the drive to our clinic, and cross-border patients from the Republic of Ireland can access our full range of GP services, including telehealth, in the same way. If you’re a cross-border patient and want to understand eligibility, referral routes or reimbursement, our Cross-Border (Ireland) Patients page explains the process in detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between telehealth and an online GP appointment?
Telehealth is the broader term for delivering healthcare remotely using technology, covering video calls, phone consultations and remote monitoring. An online GP appointment is a specific example of telehealth: a video consultation with a private GP, in our case booked and delivered through a secure online platform.
How much does an online GP appointment cost?
An Online Video GP Consultation at Friends Medical Service starts from £55. Pricing depends on appointment length and type and is always confirmed before you book. Our GP Subscription plans also include online appointments as part of a monthly allowance, starting from £29.99.
Can a GP prescribe medication during a video appointment?
Yes. If a prescription is appropriate for your symptoms, your GP can issue one during an online video appointment in the same way they would face-to-face.
What equipment do I need for a video GP appointment?
You’ll need a smartphone, tablet or computer with a working camera and microphone, a stable internet connection and a private, well-lit space where you won’t be overheard or disturbed during the call.
Can I book an online GP appointment if I live in the Republic of Ireland?
Yes. All three of our clinics are available to cross-border patients from the Republic of Ireland, and an online GP appointment can be booked and attended from anywhere with an internet connection, without needing to travel to Northern Ireland. Our Cross-Border (Ireland) Patients page has more detail on eligibility and the referral process.
Will I see the same GP each time I book online?
Where possible, yes. Several of our GPs offer telemedicine appointments, and continuity of care with the same doctor is one of the features of our GP Subscription plans in particular.
What if the GP decides I need to be seen in person?
If your GP feels a physical examination or procedure is needed, they’ll advise you to book a face-to-face appointment and can help arrange this promptly, often on the same or next day.
Is my online consultation private and secure?
Yes. Video consultations are conducted through a secure booking and video platform, and the same confidentiality that applies to a face-to-face GP appointment applies to an online one.
Further Reading
If you’d like to read more from independent, patient-focused sources before your consultation, the following are reputable places to start:
- NHS: Video Consultations: what to expect from a video appointment with a GP or other healthcare professional
- NHS: GP Online and Video Consultations: an overview of online GP services generally available across the NHS
- nidirect: GP Online Services: booking appointments and ordering prescriptions online in Northern Ireland
- NHS: When to Call 999: guidance on which symptoms need emergency care rather than a routine GP appointment
These sources are useful background reading, but they don’t replace a proper clinical assessment of your own symptoms.
Book Your Online GP Appointment Today
Telehealth has made seeing a private GP considerably more convenient, without any compromise on the quality of care you receive. Whether you need general advice, a review of an ongoing concern, a prescription or a referral, an online GP appointment with Friends Medical Service puts a doctor in front of you without the travel, and our GP Subscription plans make regular access even more straightforward.
Ready to book? Browse our full GP Appointment service for face-to-face and online options, explore our GP Subscription plans for ongoing access or get in touch through our Contact page; our team will help you find the right appointment for your needs.
