What Are Video Consultations

Remote video consultations — also called synchronous consultations — are live video appointments with a qualified NowPatient clinician. They allow you to receive clinical care in real time from anywhere using a smartphone, tablet, or PC, without needing to visit a practice in person.

NowPatient believes live video is the safest way to deliver remote care. It allows real-time interaction so your clinician can see and hear you, ask all necessary questions, respond immediately to concerns, and make safe clinical decisions during a single session. Questionnaire-based services do not offer this level of face-to-face interaction.

Video consultations are suitable for many patients who do not need a physical examination and can communicate via video. However, they may not be appropriate if you require lab tests or a hands-on examination — in those cases, you will need to visit your doctor in person. Our clinicians are not a substitute for your regular doctor if you have a serious or life-threatening condition.

Your video consultation will always prioritise safe, high-quality care. Your health and wellbeing are our top priorities. NowPatient continuously monitors and assesses its services to ensure they are safe, effective, caring, and well-led.

Yes. Traditional healthcare requires in-person visits. NowPatient is the first remote video consultation service that connects patients to a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians, allowing you to book from anywhere in the world using a smartphone, tablet, or PC.

Several services require a video consultation, including Get Treated Privately for buying treatments online, Weight Loss Programs, Genetic Medicines Test, Home Health Testing, NHS Pharmacy First, NHS Quit Smoking, Weight Loss Treatment Cessation Programme, and NHS New Medicine Service. If the service you choose requires a consultation, you will be taken to the booking screen as part of the flow.

Navigate to the relevant Service Card on your account homepage and follow the prompts. You will choose a date, time, and clinician. You can filter clinicians by gender and spoken languages. Booking slots are available up to 7 days in advance. Once confirmed, you will receive an email with details on what to expect.

Yes. During booking, you can browse the available clinicians trained for your chosen service. You can filter by gender and spoken languages, and you will see each clinician’s full name, licence number, and specialist credentials before you select.

Booking slots are available up to 7 days in advance.

Yes. When choosing your consultation date, you can add notes to help the clinician prepare for your session.

NowPatient’s prescribing clinicians are board-certified pharmacists, nurses, or doctors who can prescribe any medicine for any medical condition, subject to accepted accreditation and good clinical practice. Each clinician is registered with their respective regulatory body — for example, pharmacist independent prescribers in England are registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

When you book, you can see the clinician’s full name, licence number, and specialist credentials. Every clinician undergoes an extensive background check, including a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, and a rigorous licence verification process.

The formulary of medications and conditions treated is controlled, governed, and continuously risk-assessed by NowPatient’s Medical Director, Dr. Ihtesham Sabri.

Yes. All patients must complete or update their health profile before booking. This includes current medications and supplements, known allergies, existing medical conditions, previous surgeries, family medical history, current symptoms, and in some cases blood pressure readings, height and weight, and certain blood test results. A complete profile helps your clinician prescribe safely.

Your complete medical history helps your clinician identify potential drug interactions, allergies, and contraindications before making recommendations. This protects you from adverse reactions and ensures all advice or treatment is appropriate for your specific health situation.

The NowPatient app can measure your blood pressure using your smartphone’s front-facing camera — no cuff or wearable required. It is the world’s only cuffless blood pressure check, classified as a Medical Device conforming to EU CE and UKCA Class I standards. CE Class IIa conformity is expected in 2025. You need a recent iOS or Android phone (not available on desktop).

If your service requires a blood pressure reading, you will be prompted during the booking flow. Read and agree to the disclaimer, enter your age, height, and gender, then follow the on-screen steps. We recommend a well-lit room with a stable Wi-Fi connection. The screen will tell you when to stay still.

Ensure NowPatient has access to your device’s microphone and camera. Bring your ID — your clinician will verify your identity for your safety. You can also bring a carer, friend, or family member if they are in the same location as you; let your clinician know at the start of the appointment.

Your clinician will introduce themselves and confirm your identity. You will be reminded that you must disclose any medical conditions, illnesses, operations, and current medications, and that you must provide accurate, honest responses. Withholding or providing false information can severely harm your health. Your clinician will then conduct the assessment for your chosen service.

Depending on the service you have booked, the clinician will discharge their clinical assessment. This may lead to outcomes such as the issuance of a prescription, guided counselling, or discussing test results.

With your consent, and if the terms of the service require it, the clinician may inform your doctor of any outcome. We recommend agreeing to this, as your doctor is responsible for your overall care and should have a record of the consultation and any plans agreed.

Your clinician may take the opportunity to offer general health advice, including guidance on healthy living or stopping smoking.

Yes. Your clinician will ask to see your ID to confirm they are treating the right person. This is required for your safety.

Yes. You can end your consultation at any time if you feel it is necessary.

You will receive a post-consultation notification summarising the outcome of your appointment, any referrals made to your doctor, and any advice given by your clinician. You may also receive a short survey about your experience — we encourage you to complete it, as your feedback helps us improve the service.

If a referral letter was issued, you can view a copy in the ‘Documents’ section of your account.

If treatment was prescribed as part of a booked service, it will appear in your Cart. Go to your Cart, complete the NHS Exemption Declaration if applicable, select ‘Checkout’, choose your delivery address and method, confirm billing, review your order, and submit payment. NowPatient never handles your payment details — all payments are processed securely by our banking partner.

Yes. If the service you booked led to a prescription being issued, NowPatient’s pharmacists are on hand to provide medication advice and counselling across all dispensing services. If you have any questions about your prescribed medication, the pharmacy team is available to help.

Cancel at least 24 hours in advance by navigating to the consultations section of your account, selecting ‘Upcoming Consultations’, choosing the appointment, and selecting ‘Cancel’.

NowPatient has a threshold of two missed appointments before booking rights are temporarily revoked. You will be notified after each missed booking. If you believe this is incorrect or had genuine reasons, you can raise a ticket with the support desk.

NowPatient has specific safeguards and protocols in place. The video technology platform is certified to the highest industry standards of data security and clinical

governance.

Yes. NowPatient follows strict GDPR requirements and is HIPAA compliant, ensuring Personal Health Information (PHI) is handled securely. Legal requirements ensure your data is managed with the utmost confidentiality. Records are maintained of all processing, and breaches are reported if they occur.

NowPatient meets and exceeds UK and US data security standards, demonstrated through regular internal and external audits. Externally audited accreditations include ISO27001, DTAC, DSPT, and Cyber Essentials+.

Data residency is a key priority. UK-based data remains solely in the UK. US data is governed by HIPAA-prescribed security protocols. All data centres align with the highest standards of security and privacy, safeguarded through regular external audits.

Yes. NowPatient holds comprehensive professional indemnity and liability insurance covering all digital health, pharmacy, and prescribing services worldwide. Insurance is provided by CFC Underwriting Limited, a specialist insurer authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

You should always check that your healthcare provider is fully insured. This gives you peace of mind that the care you receive is fully safeguarded.