Ever found yourself with a sick child on a Sunday afternoon, when the GP surgery is closed and the after-hours service is miles away? Or having to take a half day off work, simply to renew a prescription?
At the average rate of 50 per visit (and up to 100 for after hours) a trip to your local GP can be expensive. Patients are also increasingly complaining about the time involved in a GP visit, including waiting times which in busy areas can be in excess of an hour. In some cases, patients opt to skip the GP altogether, creating a potentially dangerous health scenario for patients with more serious and underlying conditions.
Enter the Digital Doctor – a completely free service for Irish Life Health members, that offers unlimited consultations with a qualified GP registered with the Medical Council of Ireland.
Members can dial in at any time, from any place in the world to speak with a GP via telephone. There is also the facility to send a query to a GP using the messaging service, or speak with a GP face-to-face using the camera on a mobile phone or smart device.
If you need it the doctor can even arrange a prescription to be sent to your local pharmacy where you can collect and pay for it as you normally would.
Should the GP feel you need a referral to a specialist, an open private referral letter can be arranged, allowing you to choose your preferred provider.
“Digital Doctor is a huge reason why I have health insurance. It is a huge saving in time and money. It means I do not have to take a half day or day off work if I know my children need a specific treatment.” Vanessa Moran, Dublin
Digital Doctor benefits at a glance:
- Free, unlimited consultations with a registered GP
- Easy online access
- 24/7 telephone consultations
- Face-to-face consultations using the camera on your mobile or smart device
- Prescriptions can be sent to your local pharmacy
- Open private referral letters available
- Saves time, money and angst
How to use Digital Doctor
Accessing the Digital Doctor service is surprisingly simple.
You will need a computer or smartphone equipped with a dual camera and an internet connection. If you’re using your smartphone, you will need to download the Digital Doctor app from www.irishlifehealth.ie/digital-doctor and follow the download instructions.
To access the service simply call the customer service team on 1890 100 048 to book your consultation or fill out the online booking form via the website.
So why not give Digital Doctor a try? After all, it’s free to Irish Life Health members and available 24/7! Get started now and learn how to set up your device for an online consultation.
Don’t have health insurance, or interested in a free review of your health insurance plan? Get in touch with the Hennelly Finance team, Ireland’s health insurance specialists.
