Now you can video-chat your doctor for a prescription

Getting to the doctor is a difficult task when you work full-time. For me, taking leave for the sake of a 15-minute appointment seems wasteful, especially if all you need is a repeat prescription. Throw in children; housework and a dog that needs walking and there’s never any time left for myself.

In fact, videoDoc commissioned a survey by Irish Amarach Research and found the average spend per person per year on doctor visits is €171, with one in five spending in excess of €250. To make matters worse, over half of Irish adults google their symptoms in the hope of avoiding these costs.

But what if I told you it was possible to see a doctor from the comfort of your kitchen, car or desk? videoDoc is a new online service giving Irish people a chance to video-chat with a doctor, from 8 am – 10 pm, seven days a week. All you have to do is download the videoDoc app and Bob’s your uncle. What’s more, all doctors are registered with the Irish Medical Council and can be trusted to provide top quality healthcare for a very affordable fee. Now, I can organise an instant consultation or make an appointment for just €20, pay-as-you-go. Or, I can sign up for an annual subscription for just €35. Considering my usual doctor charges between €55, videoDoc is a bargain.

I hadn’t realised that 70% of everything treated in general practice can be treated online. Whether it’s bronchitis, a UTI, back pain, eczema, anxiety, depression, or a female health query; videoDoc‘s team are happy to help.

As if that wasn’t convenient enough, the online doctor can send prescriptions to a pharmacy of your choice for immediate collection. Or, like me, you can have the prescription sent directly to you.

A videoDoc spokesperson added, “For patients who require home delivery, we can send the prescription to a pharmacy with a home-delivery service. For example, McCabes Pharmacy offers same-day delivery within Dublin if ordered before 4 pm; or next day delivery to [the rest of] Ireland. The availability of these services adds to the convenience of consulting with a doctor online.”

videoDoc is the 21st-century doctor house call; it’s healthcare at your fingertips. Download the app today for a free personal health record and to access Ireland’s online on-demand doctor service.