A doctor may prescribe medication after a Telemedicine consultation when there is enough information to make a safe clinical decision. A prescription is not automatic, and the fact that a consultation happens online does not lower the standard of care.
The clinician still needs to understand your symptoms, medical history, allergies, other medicines and relevant test results. If an examination or investigation could change the treatment, you may be asked to attend the hospital before a medicine is prescribed.
What the doctor considers before prescribing
During the consultation, expect questions about when the problem started, how it has changed, what makes it better or worse and whether you have warning symptoms. The clinician may also ask about:
- Current prescription and non-prescription medicines
- Vitamins, supplements and herbal products
- Medicine allergies or previous reactions
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Kidney, liver, heart or other long-term conditions
- Recent blood pressure, blood glucose or laboratory results
These questions are part of safe prescribing. The same medicine can be appropriate for one patient and unsafe for another because of a different condition, dose or interaction.
When a prescription may be possible online
Remote prescribing may be considered for selected non-emergency concerns when the diagnosis and treatment needs can be assessed safely. It may also be useful during follow-up care, when the clinician knows the condition and can review how you are responding to an existing treatment plan.
Examples can include reviewing a regular medicine, continuing treatment after results are checked or adjusting a plan for a stable long-term condition. The final decision always belongs to the treating clinician and depends on the individual consultation.
Why the doctor may not prescribe immediately
The safest outcome of a Telemedicine consultation is sometimes an examination, test or referral rather than a prescription. The clinician may need to check vital signs, examine part of the body, confirm a pregnancy, test for infection or review blood results before choosing treatment.
You may also be asked to come in if the symptoms are new, severe, rapidly worsening or difficult to assess on camera. This protects you from treatment based on incomplete information.
Antibiotics are not appropriate for every symptom
Antibiotics treat bacterial infections. They do not treat viral infections, and taking them when they are not needed can cause side effects and make future infections harder to treat. A request for antibiotics does not mean they will be prescribed.
The clinician may advise supportive care, request a test or arrange an in-person assessment instead. Do not use leftover antibiotics or medicine prescribed for someone else.
How you may receive the prescription
If a medicine is prescribed, the care team will explain how the prescription will be provided and where it can be filled. Check that you understand the medicine name, dose, timing, duration and any important precautions.
Ask what to do if you miss a dose, experience a side effect or do not improve. Do not increase the dose, combine it with another treatment or stop a long-term medicine without clinical advice.
Tests and referrals after Telemedicine
An online consultation can lead to a laboratory request, imaging, a specialist referral or a hospital review. Have any requested test completed and return for the planned review so the clinician can interpret the result in context.
A test result on its own is not a complete diagnosis. Avoid choosing medicine from a result without a clinician reviewing your symptoms and history.
What to have ready for a medicine review
- Every medicine packet or a written list with doses
- Details of allergies and earlier reactions
- Recent results related to the condition
- Home readings such as blood pressure or glucose, if relevant
- The name of your preferred pharmacy, if the team asks for it
If the consultation is for a child, have the child's current weight available where possible because many medicine doses depend on weight.
Telemedicine is not for urgent symptoms
Do not wait for an online prescription if you have chest pain, severe difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding, loss of consciousness, a seizure, sudden weakness, a serious allergic reaction or another rapidly worsening symptom. Seek emergency care immediately.
Request a SkyHigh Telemedicine consultation
SkyHigh Medical Centre offers online consultations for selected non-emergency concerns, follow-up care, results review and medication review. A clinician will decide what can be managed remotely and when you need to come to the hospital.
Request a Telemedicine consultation or call 0808 974 9877 to speak with the team.
Would an online consultation suit you?
Send a Telemedicine request for selected non-emergency concerns. The team will confirm whether an online consultation is appropriate, the time and the payment details.