A new health concern
You want a GP to assess symptoms and discuss whether advice, pharmacy care, tests or a prescription is the right next step.
New prescriptions
A new prescription starts with a proper assessment.
A GP consultation for a new health concern, a medicine you have not used before or treatment you want to restart after a break.
A consultation does not guarantee medicine. The doctor may recommend advice, pharmacy care, tests, examination, follow-up or another service instead.
GMC-registered doctorsIndependent prescribing decisions
CQC-registered serviceCare within a regulated setting
Pharmacy hand-off explainedSupply and charges kept clear
Check the route
Is this the right starting point?
Prescription requests can look simple but still depend on diagnosis, records, monitoring and the urgency of the situation.
A medicine used before
You are considering restarting a previous treatment, but it is not currently prescribed or your health, dose or monitoring may have changed.
Another route may be safer
Severe symptoms, a need for examination, uncertain diagnosis, pregnancy considerations or specialist-only treatment may require in-person, urgent or specialist care.
Clinical decision
What the doctor considers.
The doctor brings together the reason for treatment, your medical history, other medicines and the evidence available. A remote consultation is used only when it can support the same safe decision-making expected in person.
The clinician is responsible for every prescription signed and may need to change, delay or decline the requested plan to keep care safe.
01
Your current problem
Symptoms, timing, severity, warning signs and what you have already tried help establish the likely diagnosis and urgency.
02
Your wider health
Conditions, allergies, pregnancy or breastfeeding, previous reactions and relevant family or social history can change what is safe.
03
Everything you take
Prescription medicines, pharmacy products, supplements and recent courses are checked for duplication, interaction and contraindications.
04
Evidence and monitoring
The doctor considers whether examination, blood pressure, tests, photographs, medical records or planned follow-up are needed before treatment.
Prepare once
Give the doctor the full picture.
Accurate details reduce delay and make it easier to decide what is safe. Share clinical information only through the route provided for your consultation.
Have ready
- A concise description of the problem and when it began
- The exact names, strengths and doses of all medicines and supplements
- Known allergies and details of previous medicine reactions
- Relevant readings, results, letters or photographs requested for the consultation
- Your NHS GP details and preferred pharmacy, if known
Important limits
- Do not take medicine prescribed for another person
- Do not stop or change an existing treatment without advice
- Some higher-risk or controlled medicines need records, examination, specialist input or another care pathway
- The doctor may recommend non-prescription treatment, tests or review instead
- Pharmacy stock and medicine cost are separate from the consultation
A joined-up route
From request to next step.
The prescription is one possible point in the pathway—not the whole service.
Book
Choose a GP assessment and give only booking information through the appointment route.
Assess
The doctor verifies identity, reviews the concern and checks the information needed for safe prescribing.
Decide
You agree a plan: advice, further assessment, a prescription when appropriate or a different care route.
Follow through
If prescribed, arrange supply with a pharmacy and follow the dosing, safety and review instructions.
Useful answers
Before you book.
Clear expectations help the appointment focus on the decision that matters.
Can I choose the medicine before the consultation?
You can explain what you hoped to discuss and what you have used before, but the clinician independently decides whether medicine is needed and which option is appropriate.
Will I always receive a prescription?
No. The outcome may be self-care, pharmacy advice, a test, an examination, monitoring, referral or urgent assessment. A prescription is issued only when clinically appropriate.
Can a new prescription be issued after a video or telephone consultation?
Sometimes. The doctor must be satisfied that remote assessment is safe and that enough reliable information is available. Some concerns need an in-person examination or measurements first.
Is the medicine included in the appointment fee?
No. The clinical assessment and any pharmacy supply are separate. The pharmacy confirms its price for the medicine, dispensing and any delivery before supply.
What if I feel worse after the consultation?
Follow the safety-net advice you were given. Use NHS 111 for urgent advice, and call 999 or attend A&E for a life-threatening emergency.
Arrange an assessment
Start with the GP conversation.
Use the appointment route for a clinical assessment. For a practical question, email your name, contact details and the type of prescription review you need. Please do not put symptoms, medicines or other medical information in ordinary email; we will explain the secure route.
Prescription enquiries
Questions about the appointment or prescription hand-off.
Emailinfo@allhoursgp.com
Address22 Oxford Court,
Manchester
Manchester
Medicine supplyArranged with a pharmacy
Official guidance used for this page:
GMC prescribing and medicines guidance ↗GPhC online pharmacy guidance ↗NHS Medicines A to Z ↗MHRA Yellow Card scheme ↗
General information only. Follow the directions on your prescription and medicine label, read the patient information leaflet and ask the prescriber or pharmacist if anything is unclear.