Push Doctor

Push Doctor, telemedicine with GMC-registered doctors in the UK

Push Doctor is a digital healthcare platform operating in the UK that presents itself as the country's first to offer video consultations via a smartphone. The company is part of Square Health and its service is available to both NHS and private patients who pay for the consultation directly.

The company defines itself as a technology firm that works in partnership with the NHS and its professionals, rather than positioning itself as a disruptor of the system. Its stated goal is to facilitate quick and easy access to healthcare via smartphones and computers, with an explicit focus on safety and the quality of clinical outcomes.

Video consultations and access to GPs

The main service consists of video consultations with NHS-trained doctors registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). Patients can register online or download the app to check if the platform is linked to their GP surgery and book an appointment. The platform also allows users to search for a GP surgery or a walk-in centre.

In addition to consultations, Push Doctor offers prescription services, sick notes and referrals to other professionals. The company notes that it is expanding access to a wider range of professionals, from GPs to physiotherapists and pharmacists, and that it offers a private service for those who want it. According to its own presentation, this allows patients to be directed to the right professional at the right time, speeding up treatment times and easing the burden on GPs.

Health areas covered

The platform's catalogue organises care by categories of conditions and health problems. Among the areas listed on the site are:

• Skin problems, such as folliculitis, anal itching, shingles and acne.
• Mental health: depression, anxiety, grief and anger.
• Joint and muscle pain: rib cage pain, hip pain, prolapsed disc and knee pain.
• Eye and vision problems: eye styes, blepharitis and keratitis.
• Ear problems: earache, swimmer's ear, tinnitus and hearing loss.
• Sexual health and sexually transmitted infections: cystitis, urinary tract infection, balanitis and syphilis.
• Digestive problems: gastritis, stomach pain, bad breath and food poisoning.
• Allergies: asthma, hay fever, eczema and hives.
• Colds, flu and respiratory infections: viral infection, chest infection, heart palpitations and sore throats.
• Headaches and migraines: fever-induced headaches, dizziness and hormone headaches.
• Hair loss: alopecia, male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness.
• Insect bites and stings: mosquito bites and ladybird bites.

The site also includes an A-Z conditions index to locate each health problem.

Technology and relationship with the NHS

The company states that its technology has evolved beyond video consultations: it helps surgeries manage demand, matches the right professional with each patient and allows the NHS's many disparate databases to communicate seamlessly with each other. Its advanced platform, called Apollo, is beginning to securely connect many of the competing systems within the health service, according to the company itself.

Push Doctor presents itself as the NHS's longest-standing digital partner and as the only platform capable of fully integrating with all NHS systems and services. The company states that its partnership agreements with the NHS continue to grow and that it provides services to 5.7 million NHS patients across the UK. It adds that, at present, 99% of the appointments it offers on its platform are filled.

Patient and professional profile

The platform serves two types of patients: NHS patients and private patients who pay for the consultation. For professionals, it offers the possibility of joining as a GP (Become a GP) and has a training hub for partners. The company indicates that it has clear clinical governance to ensure quality outcomes.

Manchester office

The postal address listed on the site corresponds to its Manchester office, located on the 10th floor of 3 Hardman Street, Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3HF. The company declares itself a regulated and registered provider, and the site mentions the CQC (Care Quality Commission) among its legal sections.

Location and contact

10th floor, 3 Hardman Street, Spinningfields, Manchester M3 3HF · Phone: 0330 808 4702