Our prescribing policy
This page explains how prescribing decisions are made at Clinique Alpa. The short version is that our doctors assess first and prescribe only where it is safe and clinically appropriate. What you book with us is a consultation, and the doctor’s time and judgement are what you are paying for.
Assessment comes first, always
Medication is considered only after a doctor has assessed you. There is no shortcut around that, and we would not want one.
During your consultation the GP takes a careful history, asks about your other medicines and your medical background, and weighs up the options with you. Where clinically appropriate, the GP may issue a private prescription following consultation. Equally, the GP may decide that medication is not the right answer, and will explain why. The plan might instead be advice, tests, a referral, a period of watchful waiting, or simply reassurance.
We do not guarantee prescriptions and we do not provide medicines on demand. Booking a consultation buys an honest clinical opinion, not a particular outcome. If a doctor here declines to prescribe, it is because prescribing would not be in your interest.
What we can and cannot prescribe remotely
Some medicines are not suitable for remote prescribing. A medicine may need a physical examination first, baseline tests, or ongoing monitoring that cannot safely be done over video or telephone. Where that applies, the GP will say so plainly rather than work around it.
Controlled drugs are not normally provided through this service. Requests for them are handled cautiously and will usually be redirected to a service that can manage them safely, such as your own NHS GP or an appropriate specialist.
Where an examination or an in person review is needed before a medicine can be considered, the GP will direct you to an appropriate service. In-person appointments are expected to resume from 24 August 2026.
Depending on what is found at assessment, you may be directed to NHS services, urgent care, hospital, specialist care or your own GP. That is not us passing you off. It is the doctor sending you to the right place.
The rules our doctors follow
Every prescribing decision at Clinique Alpa is governed by the General Medical Council’s Good Medical Practice and its guidance on remote consultations and prescribing. In practice that means the doctor must be satisfied they have enough information about you to prescribe safely, must consider whether a remote consultation is adequate for the problem, and must not prescribe where they cannot do so responsibly.
Our clinicians are registered with the General Medical Council. Clinique Alpa is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The same standards apply whether your consultation is by video, telephone or in person.
If a prescription is appropriate
Where the GP decides a private prescription is appropriate, this is what happens next.
- The prescription is issued after your consultation and sent securely to a registered pharmacy, either one convenient to you or one of our dispensing partners.
- The pharmacy dispenses the medicine and you pay the pharmacy directly for it. The cost of the medicine is separate from your consultation fee, and the pharmacy can tell you the price before dispensing.
- The GP explains how to take the medicine, what to look out for, and when to come back or seek help.
Online consultations are £65 for 15 minutes or £79.99 for 30 minutes. Fees for prescriptions, letters and other documents are listed on our appointments and fees page.
Working with your NHS GP
We are a private service and we work alongside the NHS, not instead of it. Private healthcare does not replace your NHS GP, and we would rather your care stayed joined up.
With your consent, we send a short summary of your consultation, including any prescription issued, to your NHS GP so their records are complete. We share nothing without your consent, unless the law or patient safety requires it. If we prescribe something your own GP should know about for your ongoing care, we will say so and encourage you to agree to the summary being sent.
When not to wait for us
- If you have a medical emergency, such as severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, signs of a stroke, or heavy bleeding, call 999 or go to A&E now.
- If you need urgent advice that cannot wait for an appointment, contact NHS 111.
- If you have run out of an essential medicine urgently, contact your own GP or NHS 111 rather than waiting for a private appointment.
If an online consultation is not the right route for your problem, the GP will tell you and direct you to the appropriate service.
Speak to a doctor first
If you think medication might be part of the answer, the right first step is a consultation. The GP will assess you properly and agree the safest plan with you, whatever that turns out to be.