What is the NowPatient Symptoms Checker?
The NowPatient Symptoms Checker is a medically licensed, AI-driven tool that helps you identify possible causes of symptoms you are experiencing. It is built by doctors and designed to give you fast, reliable insights in about 3 minutes. You receive a personalised report outlining possible causes, recommended next steps, and whether referral care may be needed. It is classified as a Class I medical device under UK MDR 2002 regulations for its intended use.
Important: The Symptoms Checker does not provide a medical diagnosis. If your symptoms feel severe or life-threatening, call 999 (UK) or 911 (US) immediately.
Is the Symptoms Checker free to use?
Yes. The Symptoms Checker is completely free for all registered NowPatient users, subject to our fair usage policy. It is also completely anonymous — no personal details beyond your age and gender are required to complete the assessment.
What is the fair usage policy?
To ensure the service remains available to all users, the Symptoms Checker is limited to 3 uses per month per registered user. This allows adequate access for typical health concerns while maintaining service availability and quality for the entire NowPatient user community.
Does the Symptoms Checker provide a medical diagnosis?
No. The Symptoms Checker does not provide a medical diagnosis. It provides medically safe information about possible causes of your symptoms and guidance on your recommended next steps. Always consult a doctor before making medical decisions based on information from the Symptoms Checker.
Is the Symptoms Checker a medical device?
Yes. The NowPatient Symptoms Checker is classified as a Class I medical device under UK MDR 2002 regulations for its intended use.
Who is the Symptoms Checker suitable for?
The Symptoms Checker is suitable for people who are generally healthy without ongoing or rare medical conditions. It can help you identify less serious conditions that you can typically self-manage, and provides guidance on your next steps — including whether you need to see a doctor, visit an emergency department, or whether you are suitable for a virtual consultation with one of NowPatient’s prescribing clinicians. For users in England, if applicable, you may also be shown NHS services you may be eligible for that can be conducted remotely.
Who should not use the Symptoms Checker?
The Symptoms Checker is not suitable for:
Babies and children under 16
Pregnant women
People who are immunosuppressed or taking immunosuppressive treatment
People who are systematically unwell
People with complex or long-term medical conditions
If you fall into any of these categories, please consult your doctor or another appropriate healthcare professional directly.
Can children use the Symptoms Checker?
No. The Symptoms Checker is not suitable for babies or children under 16. If a child is unwell, please consult a GP or healthcare professional directly. In an emergency, call 999 (UK) or 911 (US).
Can I use the Symptoms Checker if I am pregnant?
No. The Symptoms Checker is not suitable for use during pregnancy. Please consult your midwife, GP, or maternity care team directly.
Can I use the Symptoms Checker if I take immunosuppressant medication?
No. The Symptoms Checker is not suitable for people who are immunosuppressed or taking immunosuppressive treatment. Please contact your doctor directly.
Where do I find the Symptoms Checker in my account?
The Symptoms Checker can be found in the AI Health Tools section of your NowPatient account homepage. Navigate to the Symptoms Checker Service Card and select ‘Enter Symptoms’ from the Options menu to begin.
How do I start a symptom check?
To start a symptom check:
Go to the Symptoms Checker Service Card in the AI Health Tools section of your account homepage
From the Options menu, select ‘Enter Symptoms’
Use your own words to describe how you are feeling — you can add as many symptoms as you want
Answer the follow-up questions from the AI system to help narrow down possible causes
Receive your report with a list of possible causes and suggested next steps
Receive a notification when your report is available
Access the report in your Documents Folder
Share the report with your healthcare provider if needed
How does the Symptoms Checker work?
The symptom check is conducted through a structured five-stage interview. It collects information in stages, analyses it, and asks follow-up questions to calculate the most probable conditions. The interview is designed to mirror the way a doctor would ask questions during a consultation.
What are the five stages of the Symptoms Checker interview?
Stage 1: Introduction and Disclaimer
The service starts with information about how it works and legal disclaimers confirming it is not a medical diagnosis. You will also see important guidance about when to seek emergency care.
Stage 2: Demographics
Your age and gender are collected at this stage. This information is required by the diagnosis engine to properly assign probabilities to conditions, as the likelihood of certain conditions varies significantly by age and sex.
Stage 3: Initial Symptoms Entry
You enter your main symptoms in free text — no medical terminology is needed. The AI system understands common symptom descriptions and colloquial language, converting your descriptions into medically recognised terms for accurate analysis. You can add as many symptoms as you want.
Stage 4: Dynamic Question Interview
Based on your symptoms, the tool generates follow-up questions dynamically — similar to how a doctor would interview you. Questions typically require yes, no, or don’t-know answers. A flexible progress bar shows how far through the interview you are. The interview continues until the tool has gathered enough information to identify the most probable conditions.
Stage 5: Results
At the end of the interview, you receive a list of your most likely conditions with explanations, descriptions, and the recommended level of care you should seek. If treatments are available and no triage to other healthcare providers is required, these will also be presented. For users in England, if applicable, appropriate NHS services that can be handled remotely by NowPatient’s NHS service clinicians will also be shown.
Do I need to use medical terms to describe my symptoms?
No. The Symptoms Checker is designed to understand everyday language and colloquial descriptions. Simply describe how you are feeling in your own words and the AI will convert your descriptions into medically recognised terms for analysis.
How long does the Symptoms Checker take?
The full process takes around 3 minutes. The length of the dynamic question interview in Stage 4 may vary slightly depending on your symptoms, but the tool is designed to complete the assessment as efficiently as possible.
When and how will I receive my results?
Your results are available immediately at the end of the interview. A downloadable report is also generated and you will receive a notification when it is ready. The report can be accessed at any time from your Documents Folder in your NowPatient account.
Where is my report stored?
Your report is stored in your Documents Folder on your NowPatient account. Reports are retained for 12 months and can be downloaded or shared with your healthcare provider at any time during that period.
Can I share my report with my doctor?
Yes. Your report can be downloaded and shared with your healthcare provider at any time. It is retained in your Documents Folder for 12 months.
What is included in the report?
Your report provides:
A list of the most likely conditions based on your symptoms, with descriptions and explanations
The recommended level of care you should seek
Available treatments if relevant, and no triage to another healthcare provider is required
For users in England, if applicable: appropriate NHS services that can be handled remotely by NowPatient’s NHS service clinicians
What is the report not?
The report is for informational purposes only. It:
Is not connected to any medical system
Does not prescribe any specific course of action
Is not intended as diagnostic support or triage for healthcare workers
Provides general health and lifestyle recommendations that do not refer to your specific clinical situation
When should I seek emergency care?
Seek emergency care immediately if your situation feels serious or life-threatening:
Call 999 in the UK or 911 in the US
Otherwise, call NHS 111 (England) or request a same-day appointment with your doctor (UK/US)
Always consult a doctor if you are in doubt about your condition, your symptoms worsen, or your symptoms do not improve.
What are the limitations of the Symptoms Checker?
While the Symptoms Checker is a valuable resource, it is not a replacement for a doctor or other healthcare provider. The service cannot:
Consider all the information available to a healthcare professional during a physical examination
Identify every possible condition or symptom you may have
Always fully understand the information you provide
Provide medical diagnoses, advice, or treatment recommendations
Should I always follow the recommendations in my report?
The tool provides suggestions for your next steps, but you should only act on them if you believe they are appropriate for your situation. If you are ever in doubt, your symptoms worsen, or your symptoms do not improve, always consult a doctor.
Is the Symptoms Checker anonymous?
Yes. The Symptoms Checker is completely anonymous. No personal details are required to complete the assessment beyond your age and gender, which are used solely to calibrate the probability of certain conditions.
How is my symptom data stored and protected?
All symptom data and assessment results are:
Stored securely in compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018
Encrypted both in transit and at rest
Never shared with third parties without your explicit consent
Used only to provide you with the Symptoms Checker service and to improve our AI system
Accessible only to you through your secure NowPatient account
Retained in line with the NowPatient Data Retention Policy (https://nowpatient.com/data-retention-policy), after which they are automatically deleted
How long is my report retained?
Reports are retained in your NowPatient account for 12 months, in line with the NowPatient Data Retention Policy. After this period they are automatically deleted. You can download or share your report at any time during the retention period.
Can I access, correct, or delete my Symptoms Checker data?
Yes. You have the right to access, correct, or delete your Symptoms Checker data at any time through your account settings or by contacting our support team at support@nowpatient.com.