eConsult Health Limited Reviews 

Since my initial review seven months ago, I have recently been forced to use eConsult again. This time it was available and I managed to clear up an issue that had dragged on for nearly a month in a minute.

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It just doesn't work.

If there aren't enough resources available for patient care, I can't see what this system offers except for increasing frustration.

Unbelievably awful. Half an hour answering irrelevant questions to be triaged to the wrong person. When I was a GP we were the gatekeepers and this is now done by artificial unintelligence. J. S. Gregson. M. B., F. R. C. S.

I am amazed at these negative reviews, and wonder if peoples' poor experiences are more to do with peoples' individual gp practices rather than the eConsult system itself?
i have used it 3 or 4 times now for non-urgent but nonetheless important reasons, and the triage system is effective and timely. Outcomes were: twice to have a face to face appointment, once on the day and once in 2 weeks time; once was a phone call with a gp which was followed by a face to face, and another outcome was a phone meds review with practice pharmacist, and each of these outcomes was entirely appropriate to my reason for doing the eConsult. Each time I got either a phone call, text or email response on the same afternoon of using eConsult. Not only did the eConsult save me waiting hours on the phone to speak to a receptionist, but if many of us are happy to use the eConsult, this keeps the lines freer for people who are not computer confident and means that they have shorter wait times on the phone while people like me are using the online system instead. I would imagine that this system is also great for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, or who have mental health issues which can be made worse by the long waits on the phone and consequential frustration. I know which I prefer!
Bradford-on-Avon Health Centre in Wiltshire doing a good job in implementing this system which complements the phone appointment system.

Econsult is a Terrible service not fit for purpose force people into yes no answers when yes no anwser does not apply to them just to use the service..the other day when using it not only did it pose irrelevant questions it asked me do you think this applies to people like you ? Not only is it slow and painful to use it’s infuriating questions that you have no choice but to answer yes /no even if it doesn’t apply to you I refuse to use it I’ve ask to speak to a manager and theirs never one available at doctors surgery ..

Wish I could rate it zero , this useless "service" makes it much harder to get an appointment and rather than take pressure off the NHS it will increase the pressure as patience will reluctantly go to A&E . This is a terrifying insight into the future of a privatised NHS

More chance of getting an appointment with King Charles III than with GP!
Fobbed off using econsult. Not user friendly. Feel let down. No direct way of contacting GP. The rude receptionists in the past were a walk in the park compared to econsult.

If there was an option for zero stars it would have been given.
It's like all common sense has gone from the service.
GPs should be customer facing and deal with patients on a more personal level yet you are met with staff with bad attitudes when you question the reasoning behind such a bad system.
E consult was down when I was having severe chest pains. I was left for 2 hrs and had to ring back up myself only to be told the system was down.
A simple repeat prescription led to more stress and arguing all because the GP would talk to reception staff but not the actual patient. Absolute disgrace !!

Why are we funding this service when it’s not fit for purpose. I have been told by my GP Practice it must only be used for non medical enquires
“ Dear Mr Harrison,

Thank you for your econsult. I have been unable to reply to your econsult. Please ensure all information submitted is correct. However on this occasion we will reply via text message.

Please call the surgery directly on xxxxxxxx to speak to our reception team who will be happy to book an appointment for you. As you have been previously advised, if you need to see or speak to a clinician, you should avoid using econsult as an appointment will not be made.

Thanks

Who allowed this system to be put in place, it is purely there to prevent people getting access to health service by making the system difficult and restrictive as possible.
For example my Squires Lane Surgery in London closes econsult as soon as they reach capacity for that day so no one can access the system to book appointment for future and can't call the surgery.
What a waste of my NI contribution & taxes where I can't get the service when I want.

tries to fob you off.
forget about ai this isn't even apprpaching the older expert system thingy

Trying to find "St Richards Road Surgery Deal*. 7 surgeries found, none in Deal or in Kent. Tried telephoning the surgery (30 minutes!) and eventually told that Econsult opens at 8 in the morning and closes at midday! Still can't get an appointment with my doctor (any doctor)

This system is badly designed and will lead to worse health outcomes for many patients simply by keeping them away from the care they need to access and giving them "helpful" results like "oh you may have something serious, but your GP won't be notified, try calling someone or whatever, I don't know" (I'm paraphrasing). It's utter crap and the people owning it probably know this very well.

My practice shuts econsult off every day early usually around midday. Been trying to get results from urgent biopsy three weeks ago. Useless system causing unknown harm to patients.

The concept is great. My "beef" is eConsult don't listen to the patients.
a) 4 years ago I complained of a font error in question 16. No response and the error is still there.
b) Left a message on their facebook page. "We take your comment seriously and will get back to you". Well, one week later nothing.
c) On the bottom of one menu there is a link "Click to Join Patient Group". When I clicked "We are not hiring". (I wanted to join the group, not be hired for a job)
d) At last, an email address on their website marketing at webgp.com. Back comes an automated reply "Delivery Status Notification (Failure)"

You have to select from a list of 15 items , if your issue is not one of the options you have no other choices . Select other and you will receive a huge amount of irrelevant questions , completely unrelated to your issue. This needs improving. It is extremely poor.

The site cannot find the practice

Website not working, forced to contact Gp surgery only for them to take me through the same procedure on eConsult online and of course no it was not working now given a Gp appointment.
Contacted eConsult March 2024 with the same health care problem found eConsult to be time consuming, poor design, very few options that applied to my health care problem. Health care issue remained unresolved. Online questions Not fit for purpose.
We will be forced to go private, change Gp surgery, contact 111 or present at A/E same applies to people without smartphones or internet, etc, if this service does not make changes that is user friendly that focuses on safe health care for all.

Concept is good but in practicality it's not a time saver at all. Got to answer a 100 question questionnaire each time. Most questions not relevant. And do I really need to be asked 10 further questions on whether I am pregnant or now after saying no, entering my age which is over 50. Isnt there an easier way? Calling often means extremely long waiting to get through.. my lunch hour is little over 30 minutes.

Stealth privatisation of all gp practices,
Unnecessary bureaucracy to make an appointment with your gp. No same day emergency appointments.
God help you if you don’t have internet or smartphone cos you get no help.

Complete waste of time, after a couple of minutes the site is shut down.No better than trying to get through on a phone and a lot more hassle