Skip to main content

Contact your GP surgery in the NHS App

Patients can fill out an online form to ask about a health problem or request a letter or information in the NHS App, also known as an online consultation.

Page contents

What you need to know

Ask about a health problem

Patients can fill in an online form with information about any non-urgent health problem to get health advice from their GP, without needing to book an appointment.  This is also known as an online consultation.

This can be found in the Appointments section of the App, under Book an appointment.

If a patient inputs a ‘red flag’ symptom, they will be directed to seek acute care.

The online form is submitted to the practice where a GP or another appropriate healthcare professional can review it and decide on the right care, whether that be offering guidance or asking the patient to book an appointment. 

If your practice already uses an online consultation system that is integrated with the NHS App, you do not need to take any action to make it available in the App. Find out more about NHS App integrated partners and services.

Request a letter or information

Patients can make administrative requests by filling in an online form. They can ask about fit notes, test results or other documents without having to phone the GP surgery. This works in the same way as the ‘Ask about a health problem’ service above.

This can be found in the Appointments section of the App.

Patients are asked to confirm they don’t need urgent help when they are submitting an online consultation and, where needed, directed to use 111 online, or call 999 in an emergency.

Follow up messages

You can message patients to follow up on their online consultations using the App, find out more about messaging in the NHS App.

Find more about contacting your GP surgery in the NHS App. 

Benefits for staff and patients

Reduces unnecessary appointments, phone calls and administration
Reduces unnecessary appointments, phone calls and administration
  • patients can get advice and guidance on non-urgent health issues from a healthcare professional without requesting a GP appointment
  • reduces the 8am rush as patients don’t need to wait in a phone queue or visit the practice to ask for doctor’s letters, sick notes or other administrative requests
More convenience
More convenience
  • gives greater choice and convenience to help improve patient satisfaction
  • patients can easily request letters, sick notes and documents using their device, at a time more convenient to them
  • patients who struggle to find time to go to an appointment can easily use an online consultation to get guidance on what to do next

Find out what’s new and what’s coming soon with online consultations in the NHS App roadmap.

Further information

external

Last edited: 20 April 2026 3:17 pm