What to expect from a GP consultation for COVID-19

The GP may ask when symptoms started and whether you have fever, cough, sore throat, tiredness, loss or change of smell, vomiting or diarrhoea. They may ask about breathlessness, chest discomfort, your ability to drink and your home temperature or oxygen readings if available. The assessment also considers pregnancy, age, immune conditions and long-term heart, lung or kidney problems because these can affect the need for closer monitoring. A remote consultation may include questions about how you look and speak, followed by an in-person examination when needed.

Before the consultation, write down the symptom start date, current medicines, medical conditions and any home readings. Follow local infection-control instructions when arranging or attending an appointment. Rest, drink fluids as tolerated and use suitable symptom relief according to the label or your clinician's advice. Ask whether you need a follow-up plan, testing guidance or treatment because of your personal risk factors. Do not start leftover antibiotics or another person's medicine.

Seek emergency help for severe difficulty breathing, blue or grey lips, new confusion, inability to stay awake, fainting or persistent severe chest pain. Seek prompt clinical advice if breathlessness is increasing, you cannot keep fluids down, you are becoming unusually weak, or home oxygen readings are lower than the range your clinician advised. Symptoms can change after an initially mild illness, so use the safety-net instructions from the consultation.

Ask which symptoms should trigger urgent help, how often to monitor your breathing, whether your health history changes treatment options, and when you should have a follow-up review. Clarify how to reduce spread at home and when normal activities can resume under current local advice.