Online and in-person consultations are not rivals. They are good at different things, and the useful question is which one your situation needs today.
| Video consultation | In person | |
|---|---|---|
| A first assessment of your weight and health, with recent tests | A good fit | Also fine |
| Monthly follow-up with the same doctor | A good fit | Also fine, with travel |
| Talking through results you already have | A good fit | Also fine |
| Something that needs examining: a lump, a rash, pain when touched | Not suitable | Needed |
| Blood tests or body composition | Done locally, then uploaded | On site |
| Severe pain, difficulty breathing, a sudden change | No: call 155 or 112 | No: call 155 or 112 |
When video is a good fit
When what the doctor needs is a conversation and numbers: your history, the medicines you take, what you have tried, and recent results. That covers a first assessment for weight care and most follow-up. You save the journey and the waiting room, and you can join from wherever you have privacy and a decent connection.
- Recent blood work and body composition results, uploaded beforehand.
- A list of the medicines you take, including anything without a prescription.
- A recent weight, and your height.
- Somewhere private with a decent connection.
When you need to be in the room
When something has to be examined, felt or listened to, or when a test has to be done on site. A doctor on video will tell you when that is the case, and that is a good answer, not a failed consultation.
Something to examine
A lump, a rash, a swelling, or pain when touched.
A test to take
Blood, a scan, or a measurement that has to be made on site.
Symptoms getting worse
Especially if they are new and you cannot explain them.
Your doctor asks for it
If the doctor on video sends you in person, go.
When it is neither: emergencies
Severe pain, difficulty breathing, a severe allergic reaction or a sudden change in consciousness are not for any booked consultation, online or in person. For something urgent that is not an emergency, your GP or the local out-of-hours service is the right door.
a.clinic is a technology platform. Healthcare is provided by a licensed doctor, who decides whether any treatment is appropriate for you and whether you need to be seen in person.
- Can a doctor assess me properly over video?
- For a history, your results and follow-up, often yes. Where an examination is needed, the doctor will tell you to be seen in person.
- Is a prescription from an online consultation valid?
- Yes. It goes into the national e-prescription system, and any pharmacy in your country can dispense it.
- Do I need to see my GP as well?
- Not for a consultation with us. Your GP still knows your history best, and your doctor may suggest you see them about something specific.
- What if I would rather be seen in person?
- Then an in-person doctor is the right choice for you. A video consultation is an option, not a requirement.
See if this is for you
The questionnaire takes under ten minutes, and a licensed doctor reviews it before you speak.
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