Remote Christmas Consultations (23–26 December): UK-wide Support for Tourists & Travellers

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We’re running remote consultations Tuesday 23 December to Friday 26 December with an out-of-hours surcharge on bank holidays and late evenings. If you’re visiting the UK (or away from home) and need practical, same-day clinical help, we’ll do our best to get you sorted or direct you to the right care.

On this page:

Who this is for

• Tourists and people visiting family who’ve lost/forgotten medicines

• Travellers with minor illnesses who need a clinician’s assessment

• People needing private prescriptions (if appropriate) or safe signposting

• Those unsure whether antibiotics/antivirals are suitable (assessment required)

• This service is not for emergencies. If you have severe symptoms (e.g., chest pain, breathing difficulty, stroke signs, heavy bleeding, severe allergic reaction), call 999. For urgent but non-emergency advice, use NHS 111 (or local equivalent in devolved nations).

How it works

1. Book a remote consult (video or phone).

2. Complete our pre-consult questionnaire.

3. Clinical assessment with our independent prescriber.

4. If appropriate, we’ll issue a private prescription electronically. You’ll receive it via text or email, all you have to do is take the code to a pharmacy and they can dispense it for you.

5. Out-of-hours surcharge applies 23–26 December.

Opening hours (December 2025)

• Mon 1 - Sun 21 Dec: Normal service.

• Mon 22 Dec: Closed.

• Tue 23 Dec – Fri 26 Dec: Remote consultations available (reduced capacity).
  Out-of-hours surcharge applies on these dates.

• Sat 27 Dec - Sun 28 Dec: Closed.

• Mon 29 Dec onwards: Normal service.

What we can often help with (case-by-case)

• Lost / forgotten regular medicines (short bridging supplies where safe)

• Minor infections after assessment (e.g., UTIs in eligible adults, some skin/ear/eye infections)

• Travel-related needs (motion sickness, altitude prevention advice, traveller’s diarrhoea guidance)

• Acute symptom advice (fever, sore throat, cough, sinus symptoms—assessment for when antibiotics help vs. self-care)

• COVID-19 advice; assessment for private antivirals where appropriate and available

• Non-UK prescriptions: advice on options within UK rules

We always practise within UK law and professional standards. Some medicines aren’t suitable remotely; some require in-person checks, tests, or monitoring.

Common exclusions (not suitable remotely or not provided)

• Medical emergencies (call 999)

• Strong painkillers and controlled drugs

• High-risk or monitoring-dependent medicines where baseline tests are needed

• Isotretinoin and other specialist initiations

• First doses of injectable medicines without prior clinical setup

• Antibiotics when not clinically indicated (we’ll explain safer options)

All this means is that we can’t guarantee we’ll be able to prescribe the medicine you’re after. That doesn’t mean we’re not able to help - we’ll always act in your best interests and to preserve your health.

What you’ll need for a smooth consult

• Photo ID (passport/driving licence)

• UK contact number and where you’re staying (for couriers, if needed)

• Medication list + allergies

• Any test results/photos relevant to the issue (e.g., recent positive COVID test, a clear photo of a rash if requested)

Fees & out-of-hours surcharge

• Consultation fee: shown on the booking page

• Out-of-hours surcharge: applies 23–26 December

• Medicines are charged separately (we are not in Edinburgh right now - so we can’t dispense your medicines. That’s why any prescription you need will be taken to another pharmacy to be dispensed. All pharmacies use different suppliers, so unfortunately there’s no way for us to know how much it will cost you to dispense your medicine.)

Frequently Asked Questions

• I’m visiting the UK over Christmas and lost my medication - can you help?

  Often, yes. We’ll assess safety and provide a short bridging supply where appropriate, then advise follow-up with your usual doctor.

• Can you send a prescription to a pharmacy near me (not in Edinburgh)?

  We send the code for an electronic prescription directly to you, and then it’s up to you which pharmacy you take it to to be dispensed.

• Do you prescribe antibiotics?

  Yes - only when clinically appropriate. Many winter illnesses are viral; we’ll explain best care and safety-netting either way.

• Can you assess me for private COVID antivirals?

  Yes, if you meet clinical criteria and it’s within the effective time window. Availability and suitability are assessed case-by-case. You can read more about the eligibility for COVID-19 antiviral treatment here.

  As above we are only able to provide the prescription, you’ll still need to take it to your local pharmacy to be dispensed.

• Will I pay more on 23–26 December?

  Yes—there’s an out-of-hours surcharge for Christmas coverage and evening slots. All fees are shown before you confirm.

• Do you handle controlled drugs or strong painkillers?

  No - these aren’t suitable for this remote service.

• I have severe life threatening symptoms - what should I do?

  Call 999 immediately. For urgent, non-emergency advice use NHS 111 (or local services in Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland).

• Can you ship medicines to my hotel or relative’s address?

  No, unfortunately we are not open during this period, so can’t dispense medicines for you. As above, though, you can take it to your local pharmacy to be dispensed.

• Can you help with a non-UK prescription?

  We’ll advise what’s possible within UK rules; we may need to issue a UK private prescription after assessment.

• Will you inform my GP?

  No, however at checkout you can select the option to have paperwork about your consultation sent to you by email. You can then share this with your medical professionals as you wish.