It does not mean every GP problem can be diagnosed remotely.
A good online GP service should be equally willing to tell you “this needs to be examined in person” as it is to provide treatment online.
That distinction is one of the most important parts of safe telemedicine.
Problems that can often be assessed online
Coughs, colds and sore throats
A GP can discuss the duration of symptoms, fever, breathing, associated symptoms, relevant medical history and whether further assessment is needed. Not every chest complaint is suitable remotely because sometimes the GP needs to listen to your lungs, check oxygen levels or arrange an X-ray.
Urinary symptoms
Straightforward urinary symptoms in some women can often be assessed remotely. Pregnancy, male UTIs, recurrent or unusual symptoms, fever, flank pain or suspected kidney infection may require testing or face-to-face assessment.
Skin problems
Video assessment and good-quality photographs make some dermatological conditions particularly suitable for telemedicine. Examples may include acne, eczema flares, rosacea, some fungal infections, cold sores and uncomplicated rashes. Other lesions need dermoscopy, palpation, biopsy or a full physical examination.
Women’s health
Online GP care may be useful for contraceptive advice, established contraception reviews, period concerns, uncomplicated urinary symptoms, some vaginal symptoms and menopause-related questions. Severe pelvic pain, heavy acute bleeding or suspected ectopic pregnancy require urgent physical assessment.
Men’s health and hair loss
Potentially suitable problems include erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and male-pattern hair loss. A new testicular lump should not be managed solely online because examination is required. Hair-loss assessment can often start remotely, but sudden, patchy or unexplained loss may require examination or blood tests.
Sleep and mental wellbeing
An online GP can discuss insomnia, sleep routine, stress, anxiety, low mood and possible sleep-apnoea symptoms. Some medications are unsuitable for online prescribing, and acute psychiatric emergencies require urgent specialist or emergency care.
Can an online GP prescribe medication?
Yes, where the doctor has enough information to determine that prescribing is clinically appropriate. A prescription is not guaranteed simply because a patient requests one. The doctor has the same responsibility to make a safe prescribing decision as they would in person.
Can an online GP provide a sick certificate?
A GP may issue a medical certificate when, following clinical assessment, they believe illness makes you unfit for work. It is a clinical decision rather than an administrative purchase.
Can an online GP make a referral?
Depending on the service and clinical situation, a GP may advise or arrange referral for further assessment. Sometimes the safest next step is your own GP, an in-person GP, an injury unit, an emergency department or a specialist service.
What cannot safely be handled online?
Telemedicine has limits. Problems commonly requiring physical assessment include situations where the doctor needs to palpate a lump, examine inside an ear, perform an abdominal or neurological examination, listen to the chest, assess an injured joint, check vital signs or arrange immediate tests.
| PrivateGP.iePrivateGP.ie is designed to give people a quick private route to an Irish GP when the problem is suitable for online assessment. If remote care is not the right option, you should be told clearly what type of in-person or urgent care you need instead. |
When should I seek urgent help instead?
Call 112 or 999 or seek emergency medical care for severe difficulty breathing, suspected stroke, severe chest pain suggestive of a heart attack, unconsciousness, severe allergic reaction or another immediately life-threatening problem.
References and further information