Manual

Best telehealth services in the UK

Start with your NHS GP service if you can. For most people, the best option is the one connected to their existing practice: it keeps requests, prescriptions and follow-up in the same care pathway. If you want a private appointment quickly, Livi is the clearest pay-as-you-go choice; if you want treatment for a specific condition without a live appointment, look at Boots Online Doctor or ZAVA.

If you live outside England: the NHS App and NHS 111 online are England-focused. In Scotland, NHS 24 Online offers symptom guidance and service-finding; in Wales, NHS 111 Wales offers online symptom checkers. Your local GP practice remains the place to check which online consultation system it uses. (111.nhs.uk)

For a private service, check the full cost of the consultation and medicines and whether the clinician or provider is appropriately registered. Telehealth is not a substitute for emergency care: call 999 for a medical emergency. (cqc.org.uk)

The best option depends on whether you want a free NHS route, a pay-as-you-go private GP, or cover through insurance or your employer.

1. Free NHS route (best for most people)

• NHS App plus your GP surgery's online consultation tool. Surgeries often use Accurx, eConsult, PATCHS, Anima or askmyGP. The NHS App had 15.4m unique users in July 2026 and 7.6m repeat prescriptions ordered that month. NHS England also reported 83m GP online consultation requests in the 12 months to March 2026.

2. Pay-as-you-go private online GPs

• Doctor Care Anywhere is one of the most widely used UK telehealth services, especially for private GP-style consultations. One roundup lists appointments from £45, with 24/7 GP access and same-day prescriptions.
• Livi (being rebranded as Kry in the UK) is widely used for video GP appointments. It also featured in September 2026 media coverage of a controversy over "queue-jumping" fees, so check the pricing before you book.
• Push Doctor is often grouped with Doctor Care Anywhere for straightforward UK online doctor access.
• Other names that come up include Circle Online GP, DocTap and tapGP. Online GP consultations are quoted at roughly £59 to £150 depending on duration and provider.
• eMed took over the Babylon and GP at Hand UK services. Babylon's name is still widely recognised, but its availability and service structure have changed over time.

3. Through health insurance or your employer

If you have private medical insurance, you may already have a free virtual GP:

• Vitality GP is in the Vitality UK app. One comparison says the number of consultations is limited to 4 per policy year, with more unlockable.
• Aviva Digital GP is powered by Square Health.
• AXA Health's Doctor at Hand is powered by Teladoc Health.
• Bupa's virtual GP offers 24/7 access and video consultations.
• Teladoc Health UK is a strong enterprise option if your employer provides it.

4. Online pharmacy and clinic services

These suit routine prescriptions and common conditions, but they don't replace a GP. They cover things like contraception, sexual health, skin, travel, weight loss and test kits.

• Boots Online Doctor
• Superdrug Online Doctor (Zava)
• Pharmacy2U
• Qured, which is used for remote health services.

Quick recommendations

• Everyday health problems: start with the NHS App and your own surgery, since it's free.
• Urgent appointment outside surgery hours: use Doctor Care Anywhere, Livi/Kry or Push Doctor.
• You have insurance or an employer scheme: check for Vitality GP, Aviva Digital GP, Bupa or AXA Doctor at Hand first, as it may cost nothing extra.
• Repeat or simple prescriptions: the NHS App, or Boots, Superdrug or Pharmacy2U.

Some of these sources are comparison sites or providers promoting their own services, and prices change often. Check the current price and make sure the provider is CQC-registered before you pay. For emergencies, call 999. For urgent advice, use NHS

In the UK, telehealth (or digital healthcare) is split into two main systems: free NHS digital services (accessed via your NHS GP) and private pay-as-you-go or insurance-funded virtual GP platforms.

The top brands and products that people in the UK actually use fall into these distinct categories:

1. Direct Private GP Apps (Pay-As-You-Go)

These apps connect you directly to a General Medical Council (GMC)-registered doctor via video or phone call, usually with same-day availability.

• Livi: One of the most widely used telehealth apps in the UK. It operates a dual model: if your local NHS GP surgery partners with Livi, appointments are 100% free on the NHS. If not, you can use their private pay-as-you-go service (around £39–£45 per consultation). Doctors can issue private prescriptions, specialist referral letters, and fit notes.
• Doctor Care Anywhere: A market leader in UK private telehealth. It offers 24/7 GP video and phone appointments, usually available within hours. You can buy single appointments, subscribe monthly/annually, or access it for free if you hold AXA Health insurance.
• Push Doctor: Partners with both NHS GP practices and private patients across the UK. Private appointments generally cost around £45–£49, giving fast access to GMC-registered GPs who can send prescriptions to your local pharmacy.
• eMed (formerly Babylon Health): Offers 24/7 video appointments with UK doctors, as well as digital mental health and physiotherapy support. Pay-as-you-go options typically start around £45 per consultation.

2. NHS & Free Digital Telehealth Options

If you want free healthcare, digital access has become standard across the NHS:

• The NHS App: The official app everyone in England uses to order repeat prescriptions, view medical records, check test results, and message their GP surgery.
• eConsult / Accurx / PATCHS: These aren't standalone apps you buy, but rather the online consultation software used by individual NHS GP surgeries. You access them through your surgery's website or the NHS App to submit text consultations, request fit notes, or ask for non-urgent medical advice.
• NHS 111 Online: The official NHS digital triage service. It guides you through symptoms to tell you whether you need an emergency department, an out-of-hours GP, or self-care, and can even arrange a doctor call-back if appropriate.

3. Online Pharmacy & Questionnaire Services (Asynchronous Care)

For minor, specific, or ongoing conditions where a live video call isn't necessary, questionnaire-based online doctor services are hugely popular in the UK. You fill out a clinical assessment online, a UK doctor reviews it, and your medication is delivered or sent to a pharmacy.

• Boots Online Doctor & Superdrug Online Doctor: Backed by trusted high-street pharmacies, these are widely used for weight management (e.g., Mounjaro/Wegovy), skin conditions, sexual health, travel medicine, and hair loss.
• Zava (formerly HealthExpress): One of the oldest regulated online doctor services in the UK, specialising in fast online consultations and discreet prescription deliveries.
• Numan / Manual: Popular men's telehealth platforms focusing on hair loss, erectile dysfunction, blood testing, and weight loss.

4. Telehealth via Private Medical Insurance (PMI)

If you have private health cover through work or a personal policy, you likely have free 24/7 virtual GP access included:

• AXA Health: Uses Doctor Care Anywhere (or "Doctor at Hand").
• Bupa: Uses Bupa Digital GP (powered by Livi or their in-house GP network).
• Aviva: Uses Aviva Digital GP (powered by Square Health).
• Vitality: Offers Vitality GP directly through their member app.

What to Keep in Mind in the UK

1. Prescription Costs: Private online GPs write private prescriptions. This means you pay the actual retail cost of the medicine at the pharmacy, rather than the standard NHS prescription charge (£9.90 in England).
2. Regulation: Always make sure the private telehealth platform is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England (or equivalent bodies in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland) and that clinicians are GMC-registered.
3. Emergency Care: Telehealth services in the UK cannot treat emergency conditions (e.g., severe chest pain, major bleeding, acute shortness of breath). For emergencies, you must call 999 or go to your nearest A&E.

The best UK telehealth option depends on what you need. For most people, start with the NHS App and your GP’s online system; for faster private appointments, the most established consumer names include Livi, Doctor Care Anywhere, Push Doctor and eMed.

Best UK telehealth services

Practical recommendations

• Routine NHS care: Use the NHS App, then follow the online-consultation route provided by your GP practice.
• Urgent but not life-threatening: Use NHS 111 Online or call 111.
• Fast private GP appointment: Compare Livi, Push Doctor and Doctor Care Anywhere.
• Insurance-covered care: Check your policy first; Aviva Digital GP, Bupa, AXA and Vitality may already include virtual GP access.
• Minor conditions or pharmacy treatment: Consider Boots Online Doctor or NowPatient.
• Travel medicine: Qured or a travel clinic is often more suitable than a general virtual GP.

Private services can charge separately for consultations, prescriptions, medicines and fit notes, and an online clinician may still require an in-person examination or refer you to your NHS GP. For severe symptoms—such as chest pain, serious breathing difficulty, stroke symptoms, heavy bleeding or loss of consciousness—call 999 rather than using telehealth.

In the UK, “best” depends on whether you want NHS-funded care, private pay-as-you-go, insurance-covered virtual GP, prescriptions, or mental health support. The services people actually use most are:

Best NHS/free first options

• NHS App — the most-used NHS digital tool: book GP appointments, order repeat prescriptions, view records. Many GP surgeries also link to online consultations through it.
• NHS 111 Online — best for urgent advice when you’re not sure what to do. Use 111 by phone if you can’t use online or need help urgently.
• Your GP surgery’s online consultation — often Accurx, eConsult, Patient Access or myGP. Not glamorous, but this is what most people in the UK actually use for routine GP triage.

Best private video GP

• Livi — one of the most established UK video GP services; used both by some NHS GP practices and privately.
• Push Doctor / Doctor Care Anywhere — common private and insurance-backed virtual GP options. Push Doctor is now part of the Doctor Care Anywhere group, so check current pricing/branding.
• Bupa Blua Health, AXA Doctor at Hand and Vitality GP — best if you already have private health insurance, as virtual GP access is often included.
• Babylon / GP at Hand — now largely legacy/folded into eMed; don’t choose it unless your GP practice specifically uses it.

Best for prescriptions and minor conditions

• Boots Online Doctor
• LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor
• Superdrug Online Doctor
• Zava
• Pharmacy2U — good for repeat NHS prescription delivery.

These are widely used for things like contraception, STI testing, hair loss, acne, travel health and minor infections.

Best mental health telehealth

• NHS Talking Therapies — free, self-referral or GP referral; first port of call.
• Kooth — for young people.
• SHOUT — free crisis text support.
• BetterHelp — private and widely used if you want faster access, but it’s paid and not NHS.

Best specialist consumer telehealth

• Skin+Me / Dermatica — acne, rosacea and skin prescriptions.
• Numan / Manual — men’s health, hair loss, sexual health, weight management.
• Juniper — menopause and weight management.

Practical recommendation: start with the NHS App + your GP surgery’s online consultation. For a quick private video GP, use Livi or Push Doctor/Doctor Care Anywhere. If you have insurance, use your insurer’s virtual GP. For prescriptions, Boots/Lloyds/Superdrug Online Doctor are the mainstream choices. Don’t use telehealth for emergencies — chest pain, breathing difficulty, stroke signs, severe bleeding or suicidal crisis needs 999/111.

The NHS App and related NHS digital services are by far the most widely used telehealth options in the UK.

With over 39 million registered users (and tens of millions of monthly active users), it handles repeat prescriptions (millions ordered monthly), GP records, test results, some appointments, and messaging with your practice. Nearly all GP practices now support online consultations via the app or linked tools. Patient Access is another very common one for booking and managing appointments.

For many people, this is the starting point—it's free (funded by the NHS), secure, and integrated with your registered GP. Check the NHS App first for what your local practice offers, as online triage and video options have expanded significantly.

Popular Private Telehealth Services

If you need faster access (e.g., same-day or out-of-hours), longer appointments, specific services not covered well by the NHS, or you have private health insurance, these are among the most commonly used and recommended private options:

• Doctor Care Anywhere — One of the leading private providers. It offers 24/7 video or phone GP consultations, prescriptions, referrals, and mental health support. It's often partnered with insurers (e.g., powers AXA Health's Doctor at Hand service) and used for both one-off appointments (from around £45) and subscriptions. Strong for convenience and integration with private cover.

• Push Doctor — Frequently recommended for quick, affordable private GP video consultations (typically £45–£49). App-based with UK-registered GPs, prescriptions sent electronically to pharmacies, and good availability (e.g., 8am–8pm). Popular for one-off needs like sick notes or minor issues.

• Livi (formerly Kry in some markets) — NHS-backed in parts of the UK but also available privately. Offers video consultations, prescriptions, and referrals via an easy app. Often praised for user-friendly experience and availability.

• Insurance-linked services (if you have private health cover):

  • Bupa Digital GP (Blua Health): Video/audio consultations, often 24/7 or extended hours, included with many policies.
  • AXA Health Doctor at Hand (via Doctor Care Anywhere): 24/7 GPs and advanced practitioners.
  • Vitality GP (powered by Livi): Video appointments, prescriptions, and fast referrals.
  • Others like Aviva Digital GP (Square Health/Teladoc) also appear regularly.

These are bundled at no extra point-of-use cost for policyholders and are among the most practical for regular users.

Other Notable Options

• Specialist or condition-specific: Superdrug/Boots Online Doctor or LloydsPharmacy for questionnaire-based services (e.g., weight loss, ED, contraception, skin issues)—no live video but quick for certain prescriptions. Numan for men's health (e.g., testosterone, weight management).
• Mental health: NHS Talking Therapies (free but with waits); private options like BetterHelp or Spill (workplace-focused) for therapy.
• Subscriptions for frequent use: Some providers (e.g., Doctor Care Anywhere Care Pass or Bupa Well+) offer monthly plans for unlimited or capped remote GPs.

Quick Tips for Choosing

• Start with NHS for free, integrated care.
• Go private for speed, convenience, or extras (check CQC registration and GMC-registered doctors).
• Prices for self-pay GP video consults typically range £25–£70 for 15–20 minutes (prescriptions/referrals often included; medicines extra at the pharmacy).
• Availability varies—many offer same-day or evening/weekend slots.
• Always verify current pricing, availability, and suitability on the provider's site, as offerings evolve.

These recommendations draw from usage data, reviews, insurer partnerships, and frequent mentions across UK sources. Your needs (e.g., general GP vs. therapy vs. specific condition) will determine the best fit—many people combine NHS for routine care with private for urgent needs. If you have a specific health concern or insurance, that can narrow it down further.

The most widely used UK telehealth services are Doctor Care Anywhere, Babylon Health, Livi, Push Doctor, and Qured, with strong adoption across consumers and NHS‑integrated care pathways.

If you want fast GP access: Doctor Care Anywhere, Babylon If you want NHS‑integrated free video GP visits: Livi, Push Doctor If you want private flexibility or home visits: Qured

📱 Consumer Telehealth Services People Commonly Use

These are the platforms everyday UK patients use for GP appointments, prescriptions, and quick medical advice.

Doctor Care Anywhere — 24/7 private GP access

Same-day appointments, digital prescriptions, referral letters Included in many UK employer and insurer benefits 24/7/365 access via app or desktop £45 per appointment and 4.2/5 Trustpilot rating Best for: people who want reliable, fast private GP access.

Babylon Health — AI‑enhanced GP telehealth

24/7 GP access and AI symptom checker Some services free via NHS partnerships Best for: tech-forward users who want AI tools plus GP access. Some services free via NHS partnerships

Livi — NHS‑approved video GP appointments

Book NHS GP appointments through the app Available across many UK GP practices; free with participating NHS practices Best for: patients wanting free NHS telehealth with real NHS doctors.

Push Doctor — NHS and private options

Same-day video consultations, evening/weekend availability Works with NHS surgeries and private clinics Best for: flexible scheduling and NHS‑linked care.

Qured — telehealth + optional home visits

Same-day virtual appointments and in-home doctor visits Offers travel medicine and COVID testing Best for: travellers, busy professionals, and people wanting home visits.

🏥 Telehealth Platforms Used by UK Clinics (Not consumer GP apps)

These platforms matter if you’re asking which telehealth systems UK clinics rely on.

Pabau — most used by private clinics

All‑in‑one: telehealth, EMR, billing, scheduling 4.6/5 rating and widely used by private GPs, dermatology, physio, mental health Best for: private clinics needing full practice management + telehealth.

Carepatron — popular with solo practitioners

Free plan with telehealth and AI scribe Strong 4.5/5 rating Best for: solo therapists or small practices. Strong 4.5/5 rating

SimplePractice — mental health telehealth

Telehealth included on all plans; £39/month equivalent 4.6/5 rating Best for: UK mental health therapists. 4.6/5 rating

Cliniko — physiotherapy and allied health

Built‑in telehealth with UK data storage Best for: physio and allied health teams.

Doccla — NHS virtual wards

CQC‑registered remote patient monitoring for NHS trusts Best for: hospital-level remote care, not consumer GP visits.

✅ Quick Comparison Table (Consumer Telehealth)

Service | Best For | Key Features | NHS Integration | Rating / Price Doctor Care Anywhere | Fast private GP access | 24/7 GP, prescriptions, referrals 1 | No | £45/visit; 4.2/5 1 Babylon Health | AI + GP access | AI symptom checker, 24/7 GP 1 | Some services free | N/A Livi | Free NHS GP telehealth | NHS-approved video GP 1 | Yes | Free Push Doctor | NHS + private flexibility | Same-day video GP 1 | Yes | N/A Qured | Telehealth + home visits | Same-day visits, travel medicine 1 | No | N/A 2 Sources2

🔎 How to choose

Want free NHS telehealth? Choose Livi or Push Doctor. Want guaranteed fast private GP access? Choose Doctor Care Anywhere. Want AI tools + GP? Choose Babylon Health. Want home visits? Choose Qured. Are you a clinic choosing software? Choose Pabau, Carepatron, or SimplePractice.

Would you like me to narrow this list based on price, NHS access, or specialty (GP, mental health, physio)?

The top telehealth and virtual GP services in the United Kingdom that patients actually use are Doctor Care Anywhere, Livi (Kry), and DocTap.

Top UK Telehealth Brands & Services

Doctor Care Anywhere What it offers: 24/7 video and phone appointments with GMC-registered UK GPs and Advanced Clinical Practitioners, private referrals, e-prescriptions, and fit (sick) notes. Why people use it: It covers over 3 million people in the UK and is heavily integrated with private health insurance providers (such as AXA via AXA Doctor at Hand). Appointments can often be booked within 1 to 2 hours. Livi (Kry) What it offers: Video consultations with UK-registered GPs, prescriptions sent directly to local pharmacies, sick notes, and specialist referrals. Why people use it: Livi works in dual capacity—it operates as a free NHS-backed service in specific partner GP practice areas as well as a pay-as-you-go option elsewhere. It holds a "Good" rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). DocTap What it offers: Fast online video and voice GP appointments from your browser (no app download required), plus easy transitions to physical walk-in clinics in London if you need an in-person test or exam. Why people use it: Known for transparent, straightforward pricing starting around £55 per consultation, strong user ratings (4.9/5 from thousands of patient reviews), and rapid same-day availability. Accurx (Clinic/NHS-side software) What it offers: While not a standalone consumer app, Accurx is the dominant digital communication and total-triage platform used by roughly 98% of UK NHS GP practices to handle SMS messaging, photo/document sharing, and video consultations between patients and their own local doctor.

What to Look For

Regulation: Legitimate UK online doctor platforms must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and staffed by doctors registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). Access Model: Decide whether you want a pay-as-you-go private appointment (typically £45 to £60+ per session) or an insurance-backed/NHS-integrated option.

If you'd like to narrow this down, let me know:Are you looking for a free NHS option or a private paid appointment? Do you need specific services like prescriptions, a fit note, or a specialist referral?

In the United Kingdom, telehealth is split between NHS-linked digital services (for routine admin and booking), private on-demand GPs, and high-street pharmacy clinics for targeted treatments.

The most widely used and top-rated telehealth services in the UK are categorised by how people actually use them:

1. NHS & Mainstream Digital Access

NHS App: The absolute baseline for most people in England. While it isn’t a live video-call-a-doctor service on demand, it is used for ordering repeat prescriptions, viewing your GP medical record, booking appointments, and messaging your local NHS surgery or filling out online triage forms (via integrated tools like eConsult or Triage). Access via the NHS App Website.

2. Private On-Demand GP & Video Consultations

If you need to see a GMC-registered doctor quickly via video link and don't want to wait for an NHS slot, these are the market leaders:

Livi: One of the most prominent digital healthcare providers in the UK, offering fast video GP consultations. They also absorbed or transitioned many users from older platforms like Babylon. Many NHS regions also commission Livi to provide local virtual services. Doctor Care Anywhere: Widely used as a standalone private service or accessed for free if bundled through corporate health insurance and partnerships (such as AXA Health via AXA Doctor at Hand). They offer 24/7 virtual appointments and rapid electronic private prescriptions. Push Doctor: One of the pioneers of video GP consultations in the UK, offering appointments (typically 8 am–8 pm, 7 days a week) starting around £49 per consultation, with direct prescription routing to local pharmacies. Insurer-Backed Digital GPs: If you hold private medical insurance, check your provider's app first— Bupa Digital GP (via Blua), Aviva Digital GP (powered by Square Health), and Vitality GP are heavily utilized because consultations are often fully covered under your policy.

3. Pharmacy-Led & Condition-Specific Telehealth (Asynchronous)

For straightforward, discreet treatments, contraception, sexual health testing, or minor ailments where you don't need a live video call, high-street online doctor services are extremely popular:

Boots Online Doctor: Highly trusted, CQC-regulated. You fill out an online clinical questionnaire, a clinician reviews it, and if approved, medication can be delivered to your home or collected at a local Boots Store Finder. Superdrug Online Doctor: Similar to Boots, offering discreet online consultations and treatments for skin conditions, sexual health, and weight loss support, backed by a physical high-street pharmacy network. ZAVA: One of the largest independent online healthcare providers in the UK offering asynchronous consultations, home test kits, and repeat prescriptions delivered by post.

If you're trying to choose the right service, let me know:

Are you looking for a live video appointment with a GP or an asynchronous prescription/test kit? Do you have private health insurance (like AXA, Bupa, Aviva) that might cover it?