eConsult is an online portal where you can check your symptoms, receive medical advice or consult online with our GPs at Blackthorn Health Centre online.

Please read the following information before submitting an eConsult:

Please be aware that in order to avoid disappointment and to maintain safe clinical practice eConsultations should not be used for any urgent on-the-day issues, as a means of requesting appointments or to request your medication.

In addition, if the eConsultation system advises that more urgent advice is needed (such as to contact NHS 111 or 999), please stop completing the eConsult and follow the safety advice provided.

Whilst the eConsult advice service is still accessible 24/7, the "Contact your GP practice" part of the eConsult service is only available Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm (excluding bank holidays). In addition, the eConsultation service is not an unlimited resource and therefore, there is a daily limit on the number of eConsults the practice can receive to safely manage and process these eConsults.

eConsult is also available for children aged between 6 months and 16 years of age. The consulter must be the legal parent or guardian of the child. All children's eConsultations will result in either a telephone call from a clinician or an invite to bring your child to the practice for a face-to-face consultation.

ONLINE CONSULTATION  Consult our doctors online

How does it work?

You can search for information about your condition and will be provided with self-help and pharmacy advice.

Should you wish to get further advice from us, you will be given the opportunity to start an online consultation. Simply complete the online questionnaire and it will be sent securely to us at Blackthorn Health Centre. We will review your response and aim to get back to you within two working days with either treatment advice, telephone consultation or a booked appointment once your report has been reviewed by one of our clinicians.

How does it help improve our efficiency?

If we have as much information up front about your condition, we can best manage your problem by utilising our staff most efficiently and in the quickest possible time. In some cases like sick notes or referrals, our administrative team can help out whereas for clinical queries either our nurse practitioners or GPs could help.

Even if your online consultation resulted in a telephone or face to face appointment, because the clinician has all the questions and answers submitted from your online consultation, the subsequent appointment will be much more efficient as we don’t have to ask all the questions again.

NHS 111 can help if you have an urgent medical problem when your GP practice is closed. Dial 111 on any phone for advice, or visit the NHS 111 website – 111.nhs.uk.

Remember to call 999  at any time in a medical emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill, or injured, and their life is at risk.