Virtual GP for Employees: On-Demand Access to a Doctor, 24/7
Getting a GP appointment through the NHS can take days or weeks.
For employees managing a health concern alongside work, family and everything else, that wait is often long enough for them to either push through without support or take time off to sit in a waiting room. Neither outcome is good for them or for the organisation they work for.
When can employees see a doctor?
My Group’s virtual GP service gives employees access to a UK-based, GMC-registered doctor (all doctors are practising NHS GPs) by video or text, any time of day or night, 365 days a year.
There are no appointments to book. Employees can start a request in minutes, speak to a doctor from home or work, and receive medical advice or, where clinically appropriate, a private prescription, fit note, referral or second opinion.
Why do employers offer a virtual GP service?
Health concerns don’t stay at home. When employees can’t get a GP appointment quickly, they either come to work unwell and manage poorly, or they take time off to navigate a system that often can’t see them the same day anyway. Either way, the organisation absorbs the cost.
A virtual GP service removes that friction. Employees can speak to a doctor as soon as they have a concern, without needing annual leave or sitting in a waiting room, and without putting off a health issue until it becomes something more serious.
Employees put off seeking care more than employers realise
Employees, particularly men, can delay seeking medical help because the process of getting an NHS appointment feels difficult to fit around work. The result is that minor issues may become more significant ones, and health concerns that could have been resolved quickly can contribute to absence, reduced performance or longer-term problems.
For employees who work shifts or away from home, this challenge is even harder to overcome.
Offering an on-demand virtual GP service as an employee benefit reduces that barrier significantly. When employees can start a consultation quickly and do it in a lunch break, the reasons for putting it off largely disappear, along with much of the stress of unresolved health concerns.
Virtual GP services are now widely offered by employers
Around 80% of employers now provide digital GP services, although usage varies widely.
Clear communication remains important so employees know the service exists, understand how to access it and feel confident using it.
What does the My Group virtual GP service include?
The virtual GP service brings key health support into one on-demand route. The service is accessible through the My Group portal, which means employees can find it alongside their other benefits.
On-demand doctor access by video or text
Employees can connect with a UK-based, GMC-registered doctor by video or text, with form-based requests available for some needs.
Consultations can cover the kinds of health concerns an employee would normally take to their GP, including symptoms, medication queries, mental health concerns, chronic conditions and reassurance around next steps.
Private prescriptions
Where medication is clinically appropriate, the doctor can issue a private prescription following a video consultation or approved request route.
Repeat prescriptions may also be available for certain medications, subject to clinical judgement.
Fit notes
Fit notes can be issued via video consultation where clinically appropriate.
This removes the need for employees to attend their GP surgery just to obtain a certificate and the stress of getting an appointment to do so.
Specialist referrals and second opinions
Where a health concern needs further investigation, the doctor can provide an open private referral if medically necessary.
Employees can also use the service to get a second opinion on an existing diagnosis or treatment plan, which can be particularly valuable for employees managing ongoing health conditions.
24/7 access, 365 days a year
The service is available around the clock, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
For employees who work shifts, irregular hours, or who simply find it difficult to seek help during standard working hours, out-of-hours access makes a practical difference to whether they use the service at all.
Consultations are private and confidential, with personal data handled securely in line with UK data protection requirements.
Family cover
The service extends to employees’ partners and dependent children under 18 who live at the same address, giving families access to online doctor support including evenings and weekends.
For many employees, knowing their family can see a doctor quickly is a real benefit which offers peace of mind as well as practical assistance when they need it.
How does the virtual GP service work for employees?
The process is straightforward. There’s no appointment to book. Your employee accesses the virtual GP service through the portal, chooses text, video or form where available, and submits their request. They’re then connected with a UK-based doctor who can provide medical advice and, where clinically appropriate, issue a private prescription, fit note, referral or second opinion.
The service is designed to reduce the friction employees often face when trying to access GP support. Instead of waiting for a surgery appointment or needing time away from work to seek help, they can start a request online and get appropriate clinical guidance through the virtual GP route.
Talk to us about virtual GP
We can walk you through how the virtual GP service works within the My Group offering, confirm what’s included for your workforce, and talk through how a typical launch works.
Frequently Asked Questions
A virtual GP service gives employees access to online doctor support by video or text. They don’t need to visit a GP surgery or wait for a traditional appointment before starting a request. Consultations are with UK-based, GMC-registered doctors and can cover the kinds of health concerns an employee would normally take to their GP.
No appointment is needed. Employees submit a request by text, video or form and are connected through the on-demand service. It is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Yes. Where medication is clinically appropriate, the doctor can issue a private prescription following a video consultation or approved request route. Repeat prescriptions may also be available for certain medications, subject to clinical judgement.
Yes, where clinically appropriate. Fit notes can be issued via video consultation, which removes the need for employees to attend their GP surgery solely to obtain a certificate.
Yes. The service is accessible online from anywhere, so employees can connect with a UK-based doctor while travelling or working away, provided they have an internet connection.
Yes. The service extends to employees’ partners and dependent children under 18 who live at the same address. Families can access online doctor support including evenings and weekends.