The chat consultation has limited use
I used the chat consultation and I understand the difficulties of diagnosing through that but I would just advise people to save the £10 and look up symptoms and treatments on the NHS website instead because I was basically just told what I have seen on there. In short, this consultation only served as a confirmation of what I’ve learned for free on the internet, and an urge to go visit a local clinic.
I will stress this is not an attack on the system nor the GP who helped me as this was some reassurance to me but if you have time to go to your local clinic, do so instead, because ultimately this is also what they will suggest you do.
Reply from Consultdoc
Dear Jane,
Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback and for giving us a 3-star rating. We particularly appreciate you clarifying that your review is "not an attack on the system nor the GP who helped," and that the consultation offered you some reassurance.
We completely understand your point that the advice you received may have echoed information found on the NHS website, and that we ultimately recommended a visit to a local clinic for definitive diagnosis or treatment.
The main value of a chat consultation like ours is to provide a quick, professional clinical assessment of symptoms and, most importantly, to safely filter and triage what you should do next.
In many cases, this means:
(1) Providing reassurance that the symptoms are likely minor and self-limiting.
(2) Confirming that the steps you've already taken (like reviewing NHS information) are appropriate.
(3) Determining the urgency and safely advising whether you can manage the condition at home or if an in-person examination at a local clinic is medically necessary.
For complex issues, or anything requiring a physical examination or prescription beyond standard over-the-counter options, referring you to a local clinic is the safest and most responsible clinical course of action.
While we can’t always save you a trip to your GP, we aim to ensure you visit with confidence and the right information.
We appreciate your honest advice to other users, and we will use your feedback to ensure we clearly communicate the scope and limitations of our chat service.
We wish you all the best with your health concerns.
Sincerely,
Consultdoc Team
