A GROUND-BREAKING online service connects consumers to a UK network of over 7,000 GMC-registered UK General Practitioners (GPs) on the go, when and where they want it, has been launched.
The Care Quality Commission registered and regulated service, PushDoctor.co.uk enables patients to attend secure online video appointments with General Medical Council-registered GPs on the go seamlessly across all devices; laptop, PC, Android, Windows Phone, iPad or iPhone, and boasts the longest opening hours of any other service of this kind.
PushDoctor.co.uk has been connecting consumers with both NHS and private GP appointments for nearly two years now during a testing and soft launch phase, which saw it grow to become Europe’s largest GP marketplace, reaching a network of 7,000 UK GMC-registered GPs.
The NHS-commissioned service has now been officially launched to the public and is being supported with an “always on” marketing campaign, which includes a multimillion-pound national TV advertising.
The service is accessed via the website and app, and offers appointments from 6am to 10pm, seven days per week, to enable patients to access expert medical advice which works around their busy lifestyles, wherever they are – whether it’s work, home or abroad.
Appointments are conducted in fully managed, secure digital consultation rooms, using an encrypted, super-grade video platform, to provide the ultimate in privacy and video quality.
The service’s carefully-selected, highly skilled and friendly GPs can consult on everyday health issues and concerns within a single 10 minute appointment – from infections and injuries, to mental health issues.
Uniquely, PushDoctor.co.uk prescriptions are distributed instantly to patients via email or first class post, and so can be used to collect medication in any UK pharmacy of their choosing.
Dr Adam Simon, chief medical officer at PushDoctor.co.uk, said: “At PushDoctor.co.uk, we support the needs of busy patients who increasingly do not find the time to get away from work or busy home lives to get to the doctor; our patients are prepared to pay a small fee in order to see doctor at a time and place that works for them and enjoy healthcare that works around them.
“During our soft launch phase, we saw that there is a huge demand for this kind of service amongst patients from all walks of life – whether they’re parents or parents-to-be who regularly have questions they want instant qualified answers to, students living far away from their regular practice doctor, holidaymakers requiring medical advice, as well as working people who are trying to manage their health alongside their work-life commitments and need doctors consultations that they can fit into their daily schedules.
“As well as assisting patients, we have been carefully working with doctors to understand where to find safe unused capacity in their schedules and how to help them do what they love; which is helping more patients with their medical concerns in an easy to use, secure and engaging environment. We have made truly modern, real-world healthcare easily accessible for all – in a space where doctors and patients can connect together whenever and wherever they are.”
PushDoctor.co.uk GPs can also provide fit for work notes which can be validated by employers using the service’s 24/7 check line, referral letters, and patients can retrieve their medical notes for free anytime on the site.
GP appointments cost £14 for a 10 minute consultation. Prescriptions are £4.50 and referral letters or fit for work notes are £12.50 (inc. delivery).
For more information and to book an online consultation with a Push Doctor GP, visitwww.PushDoctor.co.uk or visit the App Store.