What is eConsult

 

eConsult online consultations are only available Monday to Friday, 8am-3pm excluding national holidays.

eConsult enables Lime Tree Surgery to offer online consultations to their patients. This allows patients to submit their symptoms or requests to their own GP electronically, and offers around the clock NHS self-help information, signposting to services, and a symptom checker.

eConsult is the most widely used digital triage tool in NHS primary care, built by NHS GPs for NHS patients, designed to enhance patient access, improve practice efficiencies and signpost patients to the right place at the right time for their care. Live in over 3013 NHS practices, eConsult gives millions of patients access to their own GP online.

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How does eConsult work?

eConsult is easy for patients and practices

eConsult lets you consult with your GP online by completing a quick form that is sent and reviewed by the practice. You can also be directed to patient self-help, pharmacy advice and local self-referral services.

 

Benefits

You'll wonder how you did without it

  • Patients may not need a trip to the surgery and their query may be resolved with a phone call
  • Patients can submit an online consultation form directly to the practice *Available Monday-Friday 8am-3pm, excluding national holidays
  • Patients can check their health symptoms online and receive on the spot medical advice and treatment guidance thanks to NHS content
  • Patients will get a response from their own NHS GP practice by the end of the next working day or sooner
  • Access from multiple devices - Smartphones, Tablets, PCs. Unlike a telephone call patients can complete an eConsult at a pace that suits them, without taking up practice time
  • Patients can request sick notes and test results without the need for an appointment saving patient and practice time *Available Monday-Friday 8am-3pm, excluding national holidays

What is triage?

Every day, Lime Tree Surgery receives requests for help or advice through patients calling in, walking in, and now also online via online consultations. For each patient request, the practice needs to work out:

  • why they have sought help from their GP
  • what kind of help the patient needs
  • how quickly the patient needs help
  • who is the best person to help this patient
  • where the patient should be seen

These answers to these questions help the practice to sort patients based on their needs. This process is called triage. Triaging is essential when you may be dealing with hundreds of patients a day, all with different needs, request and health backgrounds.

 

eConsult Video